PPT7: Can't Open PowerPoint 4.0 Presentation on Windows NT 3.51 (116559)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.51
This article was previously published under Q116559

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open a Microsoft PowerPoint, version 4.0, presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0, running on a Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51, you receive one of the following error messages:
Sorry, this is not a PowerPoint presentation.

-or-

Sorry this file cannot be opened by PowerPoint.

CAUSE

This error message appears when you are not logged on to the Windows NT Workstation as the same user who installed PowerPoint for Windows 95.

When you install PowerPoint for Windows 95, all the keys in the registry are updated correctly for the account you are logged on to when you run Setup. However, the registry keys for other user accounts on the same workstation are not updated. Therefore, the other accounts will not be able to open PowerPoint 4.0 presentations or use some PowerPoint for Windows 95 features.

RESOLUTION

Method 1

Re-register Microsoft PowerPoint 95 by running Setup /y:
  1. Insert the PowerPoint or Office Disk 1 or the PowerPoint or the Office compact disc in the appropriate disk drive.
  2. On the Windows Start menu, click Run. In the Open box, type the following command:

    <drive>:\setup /y /r

    where <drive> is the drive that contains the Setup program.

    NOTE: The /r switch instructs Setup to reinstall the software. If you do not include the /r switch, you must click the Reinstall button.
  3. Click OK.

    This procedure starts PowerPoint or Office Setup. It appears as though you are running a new installation. However, this Setup does not install any files or prompt you for any disks. What it does do is reregister all PowerPoint or Office components (provided no problems exist within the Windows registry or the Setup.stf file).
  4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for every account on the workstation.

Method 2

Delete the registry entries for PowerPoint and then re-create them.

To correctly register PowerPoint for Windows 95 on an account other than the one used to install PowerPoint, follow these steps.

NOTE: Before you manually edit your Windows NT registry, you should make a backup copy of the registry by running the Rdisk.exe program in the Windows\System32 folder. For more information about using the Rdisk.exe program, please consult your Windows NT user's guide or online documentation.
  1. Run the Regedt32.exe program located in the Windows\System32 folder. The program opens a screen that has four windows with the following names: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_USERS, and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
  2. Click the window named HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
  3. Delete the following keys that appear as file folders under the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT:

    .ppt
    .pot
    .pps
    .ppw

  4. On the Registry menu, click Exit.
  5. Run PowerPoint. Because PowerPoint is self-registering, it updates the registry for the current account.
  6. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for every account on the workstation.

MORE INFORMATION

The above steps also correct the registration of any translator installed by PowerPoint including:
  • Lotus Freelance for Windows, versions 2.0-2.1
  • Lotus Freelance for MS-DOS, version 4.0
  • Harvard Graphics for MS-DOS, versions 2.3 and 3.0
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB116559
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