Still - Random Blank Slides in PPT 2003

[Paul Simmon]

I have the same problem with random blank slides in an otherwise
working PPT presentation that played fine under PowePoint XP/2002 and
XP Home. I just came across a Microsoft Knowledge Base article
(Q327809) that referenced Intel Hyperthreading on P4 and programs
having the possibility of failure. I also just tested the same
presentation that fails on my non-HT laptop fitted out with XP Pro and
PPT 2003 and it works. Theory: PPT 2003 was not fully tested on a HT
platform under XP Pro where HT is enabled. Any comments? Any way to
check this theory out with Microsoft? Any way to temporarily disable
HT under XP Pro?

 

[Sonia]

I would start by going to the website of your video card manufacturer and
look for a more recent driver for Windows XP. Random blank slides are
nearly always caused by out of date video/display drivers.

 

[Bird Man]

I have done that last weekend. The PNY drivers caused a looping BSOD
when booting and I had to revert back to the Oct 2003 Microsoft driver
to regain stability. Please note the number of different video cards
on the computers that are having this problem. So far I count three -
ATI, my PNY GeForce 5200 Ultra, and one other unspecified. Also note
that my 6 month old COMPAQ laptop with 2.8 GHz P4 and no HT plays the
same presentation without any problem. It has to be something more
than the video driver. How could two or three companies get it wrong?
Seems possible to me that Microsoft did something in its Office 2003
implementation of HT that the video cards do not like. Your thoughts
please.

 

[Sonia]

Have you installed the critical fix for Office 2003? Go to Help > Check for
Updates and follow the links to "Check for Updates".