Restoring Flash

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Flash player shows flash symbol, not game

Support for flash ended in January 2021 and Windows is stopping flash function on users' computers. Bio-Medical Instruments has a fix for sale on their site.Or you can try the solution below to install an older flash version.

Solution the the Flash issue

Here are some detailed instructions that should make the flash work again.

1) Prepare
  • FIRST: If you are using the provisional solution of changing the computer's date, return it to the current date.
  • NEXT: Close all the programs that may execute flash: BioExplorer, BioEra, internet browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, etc)
2) Remove current Flash program

Uninstall flash by following these instructions:

  • Download and execute this uninstaller program:
    Flash uninstaller
     

    flash uninstaller

    uninstall flash reboot message
  • Before rebooting, check if this folder exists: c:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash. If so, delete this folder. (You will need to grant administrator permission.)
    flash folder
    If you are successful, continue. If not you will need to grant permission to do so on this folder. HOW TO
  • Check if this folder exists: c:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash. If so, delete this folder. (You will need to grant administrator permission).
    flash folder number 2
    If you are successful, continue. If not you will need to grant permission to do so on this folder. HOW TO
  • Reboot the computer.
3) Install an older version of flash

Install an older version of flash that will still work using these instructions:

compatibility mode

  • Right-click the flash installer program's icon
  • Click on Properties
  • Open the Compatibility tab
  • Check the option "Run this program in compatibility mode"
  • On the dropdown menu, select Windows 7
  • Click OK
  • Now run the flash installer.
  • At the end of the installation, there will be a message asking how you want the program to do the updates. Select the last option: "never check for updates"
    install flash

If you could install it correctly, continue with step 4, testing the software. If not, continue to step a.

4) Test the software

Run BioExplorer / BioEra and check if flash is working. If so, the process is finished.

If not, continue with step a.

a) Rename Flash OCX file

Rename the flash OCX file using the directions below.

  • Open the folder C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash
    In this folder, there will be a file whose name starts with Flash, followed by some numbers (they vary from one computer to another) and .ocx extension
    ocx file
  • Right-click on this file's icon and click on Rename
  • Change the file name to Flash.ocx
    renaming ocx file

Run BioExplorer / BioEra and check if flash is working. If so, the process is finished.

If not, close the program continue to step b.

b) Edit file permissions for Flash.ocx
  • Go back to the folder C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash
  • Right-click on the Flash.ocx file (the same file you renamed) and click on Properties.
  • Open the Security tab>
  • Click on "Edit" to edit permissions
  • On the upper menu, select "Users"
  • On the bottom menu, check "Total control" in the "Allow" column
  • Click OK
  • Click OK

ocx file permissions

Run BioExplorer / BioEra and check if flash is working. If so, the process is finished.

Some users have been unable to install an older version of Flash. If this happens and you want to continue to use flash, Bio-Medical Instruments will have an option available soon that they say will be available for purchase to resolver the flash problem. If you are interested in this option, please go to Bio-Medical Instsruments.

Adobe Flash Player Settings Local Storage message

Since the end of flash, the old method of changing flash settings from an online browser no longer works. The following is a solution that has not been tested extensively yet, but it should work "Local" is requesting permission to store information on your computer. There's a solution that has not been tested extensively yet, but it should work:

First you may need to display hidden folders if not shown already.
Open File Explorer from the taskbar. 
Select View > Show > Hidden items.

  • Browse to here on your computer:
     C:\Users\<Your user name>\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects\<F3ZDLUS7>\localhost\
  • Delete the life-game-history file or other relevant game file.

 

If this message appears again, try clicking "Allow." If that does not work, you will need to remove the life-game-history file again.