# CS4 says "Unexpected file format" - please help

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/cs4-says-unexpected-file-format-please-help/284993>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [March 25, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/cs4-says-unexpected-file-format-please-help/284993 "2009-03-25T21:40:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![macloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@macloo](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/macloo)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/cs4-says-unexpected-file-format-please-help/284993/1 "2009-03-25T21:40:47Z")

</div>

I have Flash CS4, fully legal, paid-for version. I am trying to open some old FLAs that I made, probably with Flash 8, maybe with Flash 7.

When I try to open them, I get the error message “Unexpected file format,” and Flash CS4 crashes!

It have checked for updates online, but no luck. Most people who mention this problem are trying to open a FLA made with a newer version, using an older version. That is NOT the case with me.