PPT7: Error Opening Earlier Version Presentation

ID: q136974

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open a file that was created in an earlier version of PowerPoint, you receive one of the following error messages:

Sorry, "C:\...\POWERPNT\PP4X32.DLL" can't be loaded.

-or-

"C:\PATH\FILENAME.PPT" Sorry, this type of file cannot be opened in Microsoft PowerPoint.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the registry entries for the Pp4x32.dll file are invalid or missing.

The Pp4x32.dll file handles the translation of all previous versions of Microsoft PowerPoint.

WORKAROUND

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

You can open a presentation that was created in an earlier version of PowerPoint by doing the following:

Verify that the Pp4x32.dll file is on your computer.

If the Pp4x32.dll file is not on your computer, rerun PowerPoint setup in maintenance mode and click Reinstall.

Verify that the file is correctly registered in the Windows registry:
1. Exit PowerPoint.
2. On the Start menu, click Run.
3. In the Open box, type "Regedit" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK.
4. Expand the following registry key:
```
 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint\7.0\Translators\Import\PP4Trans 
```
  If the right pane of the Registry Editor does not contain any values or the value do not correspond with those listed in the following table, the registry entry for the Pp4x32.dll file is invalid or missing.
  
  The following table outlines the values that you will find in the registry key if the PP4x32.dll file is registered correctly:
```
         Value                    Data
         -----                    ----

         Extensions               "POT PPT"
         Path                     "C:\<Path>\PP4X32.DLL"
         Title                    "PowerPoint (2-4) Files"
         Translator Type          0x00000001 (1) 
```
  <Path> represents the folder where you installed PowerPoint.
5. Locate and select the following registry key:
```
      Hkey_Classes_Root\.ppt 
```
6. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
7. In the Export Registry File dialog box, type a name in the File Name box, and then click Save.
8. Reselect the Hkey_Classes_Root\.ppt registry key if it is not currently selected, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
9. Close Registry Editor.
10. Restart PowerPoint and open the PowerPoint 4.0 presentation.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft PowerPoint version 7.0b for Windows 95.

Additional query words: powerpoint powerpnt 95 w_powerpt file open

Keywords : kberrmsg kbdta kbconversion
Version : WINDOWS:7.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug