I have tried to download PowerPoint for two years now but I am still unable to get the program to run. HELP?
PowerPoint Installation Problems
I’m curious about the circumstances of your PowerPoint problems. For example, which version of PowerPoint is giving you trouble? Where are you getting the original installation file? Also, did the other applications in Office install okay? Does your system meet the minimum system requirements to run this program?
Known Office Issues with Windows 2000 SP3
If your computer is running Windows 2000, Service Pack 3, a known issue prevents some Office applications from running. Several specific error messages can appear with this issue, with the end result being that you can’t run the Office program. This is related to incompatibilities between Windows Installer versions and permissions. If you’re running Windows 2000 SP3, view this Microsoft Knowledgebase article for details.
Starting PowerPoint in Office Safe Mode
Depending on the version, you may be able to start PowerPoint in Office Safe Mode. Office Safe Mode starts the required program with fewer features and user customizations. To open PowerPoint in Office Safe Mode, assuming PowerPoint is installed, hold the Control key while launching the application.
Repair PowerPoint
Microsoft Office comes with built-in repair tools that often solve tricky problems. Depending on the version of Office you’re running, the tool is called either Detect and Repair or Microsoft Office Diagnostics (2007). Either way, you can access this tool from one of the other Office applications or through the Microsoft folder.
In older versions of Office, start one of the working programs, choose Help > Detect and Repair. In Office 2007, start one of the working programs, go to the Office button, click “Program” (Word, Excel, etc) Options, click Resources, find “Run MS Office Diagnostics, and click Diagnose.
You can also go into Add and Remove Programs (Programs and Features if you have Windows Vista) which is found in the Control Panel and find the original Office installation in the list. Click on Repair to repair the installation.
Uninstall Data Assistant
Again, depending on the version, PowerPoint may be failing to run due to an incompatibility problem - this time with Data Assistant for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 and Office Service Pack 1 and above.
Uninstalling Microsoft Data Assistant 1.0 using Add and Remove Programs will solve this problem. See this Microsoft Help and Support article for details.
Hopefully one of these tips will get PowerPoint up and running for you after all of this time. Another option is to try using OpenOffice.org’s presentation program instead. Like the other OpenOffice.org applications, this particular one is free.
Celeste Stewart | January 4th, 2009
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I had the exact same thing happen to me. I agonized for five days before I finally found the fix. I tried everything I could think of at the time and everything suggested on the internet forums. I ran every registry repair software I could find, every malware, antivirus I could get my hands on. Removed and reinstalled Office and a host of other things.
The Microsoft company tech people were the least helpful; the only thing they know how to do is insult you.
This is what worked for me:
1. go to RUN from your start button
2. in the field type command
3. A black popup window will appear
4. at the prompt (flashing | ) type in cd\
5. this will take you to your root directory for the c drive
6. At the c:\> prompt type bcdedit.exe /set nx OptOut
7. Close all open windows
8. Reboot your computer
9. Try to open your Office application again
10. Don’t freak out when you get that same “do you want to run in safe mode?” Popup again.
11. answer yes
12. If the application opens – close down office
13. reopen the office application again - it should now open normally
This worked for me; I sure hope it fixes your concern too!
Professor William Kibbe
Austin Community College
Austin Texas