Collins New GCSE Science Software

[ticktock]

Bit of a long shot if anyone can help. I have a science teacher that still wants use the Collins New GCSE Science Software (OCR, Additional Sciences and Separate sciences) from 2011 (I know!). This worked fine on W7 but won't even launch when installed on W10. Nothing in the error logs and not a twitch when I click on the icons. The software seems to be made up of .swf files which launch ok if I click on them individually. I've tried every compatibility I can see and no joy. Just before I tell him it's out of date and won't work I though I would run it past fellow Edugeekers!

[BOOT]

Blocked by Anti Virus software? It was a known issue a while back.

[ticktock]

Many thanks. Just disabled sophos, still not working. There seems to be a .swf called infuze (the name of the developers), when I edit it there is just gobbledegook, I suspect it may be something to do with that.

[BOOT]

Looks like the .swf is encrypted.

Might be related to this: http://www.northcode.com/blog/SWF-Studio-and-Windows-10

[ticktock]

I've just dropped them an email in the hope they will give me a run time fix. Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

[DrBeaker]

Aren't *.SWF files shockwave/flash based?

 

e.g. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-will-ignore-flash-content-on-websites-no-longer-index-swf-files/332451/

 

From 2011 at 8x years old the content may be still relevant but the technology isn't. E.g. Boardworks who had flash-packed PowerPoint files, but no longer produce Boardworks CD Presentations and only do it as part of .... you guessed it..... online subscriptions.

 

It's this old chestnut of allowing outdated content on the network potentially poses a security risk - essentially at 8x years old it's obsolete? i.e. you can't support it.

 

I know we had that with Canon scanners here http://www.edugeek.net/forums/wired-networks/209253-visualisers-windows-10-a.html#post1794906 and https://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/46741-canoscan-lide20-64bit-driver.html where they simply didn't support them any longer.

Edited December 20, 2019 by DrBeaker

[Boredguy]

swf are shockwave/flash and as such browsers have to be told to allow the flash plugin to function, which breaks lots of old software titles.

 

Retire the package and see if they can use something more up to date if possible

[ticktock]

Yes will do. Thanks again everyone for your help.

[Passat1983ICTech]

hi there can you set them up on a server and run them from there just need to put the shortcuts on the startup menu and make sure they run

[mavhc]

Still 1 more year of Flash support.

 

Then switch to https://lightspark.github.io/

[DrBeaker]

Still 1 more year of Flash support.

 

Then switch to https://lightspark.github.io/

 

 

Surely a "A free, open source Flash player" is potentially a security issue? Moreso when Adobe themselves aren't supporting it. We're not talking about something like VLC here.

[ticktock]

I'm going to tell them the software is outdated and won't run on w10. I've also been in contact with Collins who also say it isn't compatible with w10. Thanks again everyone and Happy New Year.

[mavhc]

Surely a "A free, open source Flash player" is potentially a security issue? Moreso when Adobe themselves aren't supporting it. We're not talking about something like VLC here.

 

A non-free closed source flash player has been a security issue for the last 25 years, and will be for the next 10.

 

What security issues are you concerned about?