You receive a cannot find the specified file error message when you play a presentation with embedded sounds on another computer in PowerPoint 2003 (827102)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003

SYMPTOMS

When you add sounds to a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 presentation and then play that presentation on a different computer, the sounds do not play and you receive an error message that is similar to the following:
Cannot find the specified file. Make sure the path and file name are correct.
You may also notice that the file size is not as large as you expected.

CAUSE

This issue occurs if you use a sound file that is not a .wav file, or if the .wav file is too large. Sound files other than .wav files and large .wav files are linked and not embedded. If you do not move the linked files to the computer that the presentation is on, the sound will not be heard and you receive an error message.

RESOLUTION

Use the Package for CD Feature to Move Files

PowerPoint 2003 has a new feature that is named Package for CD that simplifies moving and updating all linked files together with the presentation to a folder or a CD. To save as a package, follow these steps:
  1. Open the PowerPoint 2003 presentation that you want to move.
  2. Click File, and then click Package for CD.

    Note This will package the presentation for either a folder or a CD. By default, linked files and the PowerPoint Viewer are included in the package.
  3. In the Name the CD box, type the name for your folder or CD.
  4. You can include more than one PowerPoint 2003 presentation, if you want to include more files click the Add Files button and select the additional files to add.

    Note By default, PowerPoint 2003 will play all files automatically in the order that is specified. You can specify the order that you want when you include additional files.
  5. Click either the Copy to Folder button or the Copy to CD button.

    Note On Microsoft Windows 2000, you must copy your files to a folder, and then burn the folder to a CD by using a third-party CD-burning program.
  6. If you click Copy to CD, the file will be copied to the CD.

    If you click Copy to Folder, PowerPoint 2003 copies the files with a name and a location that you specify.
Note The PowerPoint 2003 package will play on computers that are running Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition or later. You do not have to have PowerPoint 2003 to play these files.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one or more of the following methods.

Method 1: Convert Sound Files to .wav Format

Use a sound program to convert sound files into .wav format.

Method 2: Embed Sound Files in the Presentation

One way to resolve this issue is to increase the size that PowerPoint 2003 requires to save files as linked instead of as embedded. When you use this method, you can embed the .wav files in your presentation and have them play back on a different computer without copying each sound file separately. To use this method, follow these steps:
  1. Click Tools, click Options, and then click the General tab.
  2. In the Link sounds with file size greater than box, click the arrows to change the minimum kilobytes (KB) that are required for sound files to be automatically linked to your presentation.

    The maximum size that you can type here is 50,000 KB. 50,000 KB equals 50 megabytes (MB).
  3. Click OK.
  4. Delete the sound objects that are not currently working, and then reinsert the sounds in the slides.

    They are now embedded and will play on any computer.
Notes
  • You have to reset the play settings for each sound after you reinsert it into the original presentation.
  • This process increases the file size of the presentation by the size of the sound file that is being embedded.
  • These steps apply only to *.wav sound files.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/12/2006
Keywords:kbsound kbslideshow kberrmsg kbprb KB827102 kbAudEndUser
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