merge message - file does not open

[Guest]

I am attempting to open a large (18 Meg) powerpoint file. The bottom left
status line says performing virus scan, followed by "merge...hostname" where
the hostname is another machine on my network. Nothing else happens, and
powerpoint is no longer using any resources.

Any idea what's going on or how I open the file?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I am attempting to open a large (18 Meg) powerpoint file. The bottom left
status line says performing virus scan, followed by "merge...hostname" where
the hostname is another machine on my network. Nothing else happens, and
powerpoint is no longer using any resources.

Sounds like the virus software's up to mischief with PPT.

If the software allows you to scan a file w/o opening it, try that. If the
file comes up clean, disconnect from the network, disable the virus software
(or at least the component of it that scans Office/PPT files when opened) and
try opening the file again.

 

[Guest]

I disabled the Office plug-in, but that didn't work.

What I find odd is that task manager shows everything as being idle right
after I get the merge message?

 

[Guest]

I managed to find a work around:

I started a new presentation, then selected Insert/Slides from Files.

I selected the old file that would not open.

I selected Insert All.

I'm now off to the races.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Good show on finding a workaround.

But you might want to ask around (IT department, maybe?) what's going on with that
"merge" message. It doesn't sound like anything you'd normally get from PPT.