Powerpoint Books for Dummies

Important: You must install all critical Windows updates and all Office updates before installing the Compatibility Pack. Otherwise it may not install or run correctly. In fact, an incomplete installation of the Compatibility Pack causes this same error message. You may be able to double-click the file to open it, though.

How to update PowerPoint 2003

As mentioned, before you can install the Compatibility Pack, you need to make sure your copy of PowerPoint is up to date.

• From the main menu bar, choose Help, Check for Updates.
• This takes you to The MS Office Online Downloads page
• Near the top of the page, you’ll see a “Check for Updates” link under the Office Update headline. Click it.
• Install any suggested Critical Updates.

Note: If you have disabled Online Content, Check for Updates won’t work. To re-enable it:

• Choose Help, Customer Feedback Options.
• Click Online Content in the list on the left.
• Put a checkmark next to “Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online”.
• Click OK.
• Quit and restart PowerPoint. Help, Check for Updates should now take you to the correct web site.

Other reasons you might see these error messages

The file was created in PowerPoint 2002/XP or later and password protected

See PowerPoint 2002 (XP) vs PPT2000/PPT97 incompatibilities
The password protection feature was introduced in PowerPoint 2002 (XP). Earlier versions can’t open password-protected files. No Mac versions of PowerPoint can open password protected files.

Possible solutions:

• Have the file’s author open and resave the file without a password.
• If you have access to a computer with PowerPoint 2002 or later, try using it to open the file. Depending on the password protection level, you may be able to view and print the file, even if you don’t know the password.

Microsoft has a knowledgebase article, You receive a “PowerPoint can’t open the type of file” error message when you open a PowerPoint presentation in a version that is earlier than PowerPoint 2002 that offers a few more details.

The file’s on a network drive and is open in a Mac version of PowerPoint