Have you recently purchased a new computer or perhaps you’re shopping around for one? If so, you may discover some of them are now being sold with 64-bit editions of Windows Vista. That sounds fine until you discover that Flash based movies, like ProCare Tutorials, no longer work. Luckily, there is a work around.
32 bit, 64 bit and the 6 Million Dollar Man
Since the days of Windows 95, computers have been primarily based on a 32-bit operating system. In fact, up ‘til now Vista itself has been shipped in 32-bit format. The new Vista is intended to be bigger, faster, stronger – like Lee Majors, who played Steve Austin, in the Six Million Dollar Man – for those of you who remember that 70’s serial.
Why You Should Care
You may be asking, “Why does this matter – how will it affect me?”. To you a “bit” is something that belongs in the mouth of a horse, not a technology thing. And as far as Flash goes, he’s some comic book hero from by gone days.
Well, here it is, plain as day. The Adobe Flash Player is not 64-bit compatible. Clear as mud, right? It means that Flash based web sites, movies, and tutorials – like ProCare Tutorials – won’t run in the new Vista without a little work around.
Download Firefox
The solution, according to Adobe, is to use a 32-bit browser, like Firefox. Then install the Free Flash Player in your new browser. You may want to make it your default browser, otherwise, Internet Explorer will still come up.
Are you sure this isn’t a ProCare thing?
Really and truly, this has nothing to do with ProCare. We are the victim here just like any of the other millions of websites that rely on Flash. This is a compatibility problem between Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (which is built into 64 bit Vista) and the Adobe Flash Player. According to Adobe they are “working on Flash Player support for 64-bit platforms”.
Happy browsing and until next time, cheers!
-Phil
If you have questions or comments about this article (or suggestions for another article) I’d be pleased to hear from you. Drop me at note at phil@procaresoftware.com.
May 29, 2009 at 9:25 am |
Trouble getting adobe flash player to work in Vista 64 bit OS.
I downloaded firefox. Made it my default browser. Installed the adobe flash player, but still doesn’t work?
Get message that “FlaSH9B.OCX FAILED TO REGISTER” and “HRESULT – 21472220473 – CONTACT YOUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL”
HP Pavilion support states the adobe flash player will work with vista 64 bit OS, yet I understand the flash player is not compatible with the 64 bit OS.
What can I try now?
May 29, 2009 at 11:10 am |
Bob – Thanks for your question. There are many threads online that deal with Flash and Vista 64 issues.
Flash is on version 10, but HP may still have some tie ins with version 9b thus the old .ocx file can’t be registered. There is a thread on the topic here: http://paulsiu.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/hp-solution-center-failed-to-open/
Here are a few other thoughts that might help.
1. One possibility is that you need to install Flash as and Administrator. See: http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2153/vista_adobe_flash_player/
2. Another idea is to uninstall then reinstall Flash.
3. An alternative to using Firefox may be to use the 32 bit version of IE (Vista 64 comes with both 64 & 32 bit IE).
September 3, 2009 at 5:33 pm |
I waited quite some time before installing Vista 64. Flash runs perfectly well in the 32 bit IE that’s packaged with Vista 64. Other video formats are not so fortunate and it was necessary to locate 64 bit codecs for many. I ended up acquiring the klcodec 64 bit package and it covered most of my needs in that area. It even comes with a 64 bit version of MediaPlayer Classic and adds “some” 64 bit functionality to Media Center.
Hope that helps.