How to open a .pps file when not recognized by PPT - even saved

[Guest]

Working in ppt 2002 on Windows XP.

I have received a .pps file. Usually these play when opened. For the second
time in 4 months I have a file that is not recognized by Powerpoint. Yet
others can open it easily on their machines. I tried saving it , with .pps
and .ppt file extensions. Still not readable by my Powerpoint.

Any ideas? Help much appreciated.

 

[Austin Myers]

Do you get an error message? If so, what is specific wording?


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Guest]

Austin

From inbox or a saved version of the .pps file "Power point can't read C:\
\\ \File1.pps


I also saved to desktop and changed name to file1.ppt

" Can't open the type of file represented byC\ \\ \File1.ppt

This happened earlier this year when a client circulated one of my ppt files
as a pps file - I was the only one who couldn't open it!. If I make my own
shows into pps, no problem.

Any ideas?

David S.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Austin

From inbox or a saved version of the .pps file "Power point can't read C:\
\\ \File1.pps

I also saved to desktop and changed name to file1.ppt

" Can't open the type of file represented byC\ \\ \File1.ppt

This happened earlier this year when a client circulated one of my ppt files
as a pps file - I was the only one who couldn't open it!. If I make my own
shows into pps, no problem.

Any ideas?

I'd start PPT, choose Help, Detect & Repair and let that churn through its
paces. Among other things, it'll re-register the PPT and PPS filetypes with
Windows. Sounds like the filetype registration's somehow gotten hosed.

 

[Austin Myers]

I'd start PPT, choose Help, Detect & Repair and let that churn through its

paces. Among other things, it'll re-register the PPT and PPS filetypes
with
Windows. Sounds like the filetype registration's somehow gotten hosed.

One more suggestion to go with Steve's, make certain you have all the Office
updates installed.



Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Guest]

Steve

Thanks for the suggestion

Sounded like a logical solution. After the options (I left as is) the
message comes up "Configuring Windows XP Professional with Front Page". Took
half a minute - then said it was configured, and closed down.

Still doesn't work - even tried restarting the computer.

Any other ideas? this is irritating

 

[Guest]

Well, thanks Austin.

I installed new harddrive two weeks ago, reloaded programs and had
forgotten to check MS Office updates - I saw just now it needed 15 updates,
and I went on to sort out Windows updates as well.

It upgraded Office, but didn't sort out this particular .pps issue.

I tried 'check and repair' with exact same result as before.

Any other ideas? I have Macafee virus protection and Webroot spyscreen. I'll
play with those, but I don't have much hope!

Let me know if you think of something

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Steve

Thanks for the suggestion

Sounded like a logical solution. After the options (I left as is) the
message comes up "Configuring Windows XP Professional with Front Page". Took
half a minute - then said it was configured, and closed down.

"Windows XP..." or "Office XP ..."?

Still doesn't work - even tried restarting the computer.
Any other ideas? this is irritating

I'd imagine so. Some more questions then:

What about other types of files on your desktop?
Does doubleclicking them work where it doesn't with PPT files?

Do these files show the normal PPT icons?

Do you have another drive available, even a USB thumb drive?
Try copying the file there and see if anything changes when you open it instead
of the one on the desktop.

You could also try creating a new user for the PC and logging in as that user.
Not sure, but I think Office should still be available. Try copying the file
to that desktop and give a whirl.

 

[Guest]

Steve

Before I got this I tried without the anti virus/spy sweeper - still no
result. As I said in another response, I have had a new hard disk and had to
reload everything, and yesterday uploaded all Miscrosoft Office and Windows
updates - still no result.

It was Windows XP. It is Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2. This is
Powerpoint Version 2002 SP3.

Here's the thing - I saved other .ppt files to desk top - worked/clicked
OK. However, when I looked for a way of saving my files as slide shows, I
don't have the option to save as .pps, only as presentation. Is this normal?

David

 

[Guest]

Steve

Checked - it is Office XP Professional

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Steve

Before I got this I tried without the anti virus/spy sweeper - still no
result. As I said in another response, I have had a new hard disk and had to
reload everything, and yesterday uploaded all Miscrosoft Office and Windows
updates - still no result.

It was Windows XP. It is Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2. This is
Powerpoint Version 2002 SP3.

Here's the thing - I saved other .ppt files to desk top - worked/clicked
OK. However, when I looked for a way of saving my files as slide shows, I
don't have the option to save as .pps, only as presentation. Is this normal?

No, but sometimes the way to do it isn't obvious.
Choose File, Save as. Next to "Save as type" you'll see the normal
"Presentation .. yadayada" text. To the right of that there's a downward
facing arrow/pointer/widget. Click that to open up the list of other Save As
choices. Show is one of those.

Or you can simply rename an existing PowerPoint file: change the file's
extension from .PPT to .PPS

To do this, you'll need to armwrestle Windows into showing the extensions.
Have a read here for the howto and some other suggestions to try:

Do this before using PowerPoint seriously
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00034.htm

And have a go at answering the other questions below ... thanks.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Steve

Thank particularly for the website PPTools - and the way to tidy up Windows
Office etc etc before using Powerpoint - this will definitely sort out some
of the more irritating things I have come across.

As to the pps file, tried all the things that you suggested. Realized that
save as pps was there all the time - as usual - I was tired and it was late
is all I can say!!! Change from pps to ppt, saved as ppt or pps on thumb
drive etc.. Same message can't open this type of file.

I have had pps files recently, similar photo content, and saved as ppt on my
computer to get acces to graphics

Well, I don't know what else it can be. I asked them to resend to a
different home computer email, and resend to me here. Let's see how it goes -
I'll let you know - perhaps it is a corrupted file.

best regards, and thanks - most illuminating

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thank particularly for the website PPTools - and the way to tidy up Windows
Office etc etc before using Powerpoint - this will definitely sort out some
of the more irritating things I have come across.

It's so nice to learn ways of bending it to your will instead of letting it bend
you to its Bill. <g>

FWIW, the O'Reilly "Annoyances" series of books are full of similar kinds of
tips. There's one for Windows and another for PowerPoint. Look up. Look down.
You'll see lots of answers here from Echo Swinford, the book's author. [pause
for applause]

As to the pps file, tried all the things that you suggested. Realized that
save as pps was there all the time - as usual - I was tired and it was late
is all I can say!!! Change from pps to ppt, saved as ppt or pps on thumb
drive etc.. Same message can't open this type of file.

If it turns out that the file's not corrupted, start PPT and do Help, Detect and
Repair.

 

[Guest]

Setve

Many thanks - our postings crossed. I am good to go now.

Particular thanks for the cleanup tips, and the book. I am a business man,
on my own for 9 months, and for some reason my main work has been creating a
massive series of Power Point based learning materials in my technical field.
When things go wrong there is no IT department and I get very frustrated.

One of my worries on my current project is making the technical slide shows
with lots of simple animation stable enough to send around the world for
people to use as self learning. I see from your PPTools website that you have
some products that might help with that, so when I get time I definitely
intend to look further at that.

Thank you for all your help, and the reference material you pointed me at.
Much appreciated.

David
--
David S

Thank particularly for the website PPTools - and the way to tidy up Windows
Office etc etc before using Powerpoint - this will definitely sort out some
of the more irritating things I have come across.

It's so nice to learn ways of bending it to your will instead of letting it bend
you to its Bill. <g>

FWIW, the O'Reilly "Annoyances" series of books are full of similar kinds of
tips. There's one for Windows and another for PowerPoint. Look up. Look down.
You'll see lots of answers here from Echo Swinford, the book's author. [pause
for applause]

As to the pps file, tried all the things that you suggested. Realized that
save as pps was there all the time - as usual - I was tired and it was late
is all I can say!!! Change from pps to ppt, saved as ppt or pps on thumb
drive etc.. Same message can't open this type of file.

If it turns out that the file's not corrupted, start PPT and do Help, Detect and
Repair.

I have had pps files recently, similar photo content, and saved as ppt on my
computer to get acces to graphics

Well, I don't know what else it can be. I asked them to resend to a
different home computer email, and resend to me here. Let's see how it goes -
I'll let you know - perhaps it is a corrupted file.

best regards, and thanks - most illuminating

-----------------------------------------
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[Guest]

Steve

Looking, I see that my actual 'final' posting didn't get onthe system, so
here it is again.

I was finally successful - it was a corrupted file all along! My contact
resent it, and it loaded perfectly.

But thank goodness you and Austin Myers awakened me to the fact that
programs and Windows loaded on my new hard disk were so out of date.

Thanks - up and running again