Both PowerPoint 97 and Excel 97 do not use the Default document location setting (279746)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q279746

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft PowerPoint 97 or Microsoft Excel 97 for the first time, the Default file location setting is one of the following

Microsoft Windows 2000

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

C:\Winnt\Profiles\Administrator\Personal

instead of the expected location for opening and saving files

Microsoft Windows 2000

C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

C:\Winnt\Profiles\username\Personal

NOTE: To view the Default file location setting, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Advanced tab.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the following conditions are true:
  1. The local administrator for the computer installs Microsoft Office 97.
  2. In an attempt to replicate the same settings to all users, the administrator runs the Microsoft Office 97 programs and sets the preferred settings.
  3. The administrator copies his or her NTUser.dat file to the default user's profile, thereby replacing the existing NTUser.dat file in that profile. This effectively gives all new users the same settings as the administrator, including the default file location.
For additional information about how to use the NTUser.dat file to give all users the same settings, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

146050 Modifying Ntuser.dat Hive So New Users Get Defined Settings

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use the appropriate method for your situation.

Method 1: For New Users Who Have Not Logged On

To prevent this problem for new users who have not logged on, follow these steps:
  1. Log on as the local Administrator account on the computer.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. In Registry Editor, delete the Default entry in the following subkey (folder):

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\PowerPoint\Recent Folder List

  4. Log off from the Administrator account and log back on to the computer as another account, such as the Guest account.
  5. In Windows Explorer, go to the appropriate folder for your operating system.

    Windows NT 4.0

    C:\Winnt\Profiles\Administrator

    Windows 2000

    C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator

  6. Select the NTUser.dat file, and click Copy on the Edit menu.
  7. Go to the appropriate folder for your operating system.

    Windows NT 4.0

    C:\Winnt\Profiles\Default User

    Windows 2000

    C:\Documents and Settings\Default User

  8. Right-click the NTUser.dat file, and then click Rename on the shortcut menu. Rename the file as NTUser.old.
  9. On the Edit menu, click Paste to copy the Administrator profile to the Default User's folder.
When a new user logs on to the computer, the Default file location setting uses the correct path.

Method 2: For Users Who Have Already Logged On

Users who have already logged on can change their Default file location setting by following these steps:
  1. Start PowerPoint.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the Advanced tab.
  3. Delete the path in the Default file location box, and then type the correct path for your operating system

    Windows NT 4.0

    C:\Winnt\Profiles\Username\Personal

    Windows 2000

    C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents

    where Username is the name of the current user.

  4. Click OK.
  5. Quit PowerPoint.

STATUS

This behavior only occurs in Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and in Microsoft Excel 97. It does not occur in Microsoft Word 97.

This behavior no longer occurs in Microsoft Office 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

The Personal entry in the following registry subkey contains the default file location (unless a policy changes it):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\UserShell Folders

The default file location specified in this registry key is specific to the user that is currently logged on.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/6/2006
Keywords:kbprb kbsetup KB279746
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