PowerPoint Could Not Locate Character Map (149593)

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Character Map toolbar button in PowerPoint, you may receive the following error message:

PowerPoint could not locate or start Character Map Utility.

You may receive this error message even if Character Map is installed and can be accessed from the Start menu in Windows 95.

CAUSE

This behavior will occur if Windows 95 was upgraded over an older version, and Character Map has not been registered.

NOTE: You can access Character Map from the Interactive Settings menu in PowerPoint 7.0 if you browse for the full path; however, if you enter "charmap.exe" you will not be able to locate Character Map. Additionally, if you enter the fully qualified path from Interactive Settings, the toolbar button will work, but only in that session of PowerPoint; it will fail the next time you open PowerPoint.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the following steps to force Windows 95 to reinstall (and thereby register) Character Map:

In Control Panel, click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
Click the Windows Setup tab.
Click Accessories, and then click the Details button.

You will see that Character Map has not been selected.
Select Character Map, and let Windows 95 install it.

Character Map will now be registered properly, and the toolbar button will work properly.