You receive an Mmsystem 296 error message when you play an AVI or MPEG file in PowerPoint 2002 (291898)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
This article was previously published under Q291898
For a Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 version of this article, see 212406.
For a Microsoft PowerPoint 97 version of this article, see 178307.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to play a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) or Audio-Video Interleaved (AVI) video clip in Microsoft PowerPoint, you receive the following error message:
Mmsystem 296: The file cannot be played on specified mci device, may be corrupt or not in correct format.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because PowerPoint cannot play some AVI and MPEG files if the file is associated with ActiveMovie.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, re-associate the AVI or MPEG file type with Media Player. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Select a file of the type (AVI or MPEG) for which you want to change the association.
  2. Hold down SHIFT and right-click the file. On the shortcut menu, click Open With.
  3. Click Mplayer (or Mplay32, depending on your version of Media Player) in the Open With dialog box. Click to select the Always use this program to open this type of file check box.
  4. Click OK.
ActiveMovie may have added a registry entry that re-associates files with ActiveMovie when you restart Microsoft Windows. If the entry is present, remove it. To remove the ActiveMovie startup item from the registry, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. In the left pane of Registry Editor, open the following subkey (folder):

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

  3. In the right pane, look for the following ActiveMovie entry:
    Name Data
    ActiveMovie File Extensions"ActMovie.exe /Check"
  4. Select the entry and press DELETE.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbformat kberrmsg kbgraphic kbinterop kbprb KB291898
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