PowerPoint fails to open on SOME presentations but not all

[Hal4re]

I have PowerPoint for Mac ver 11.3.5. When receiving .pps files as email attachments, most open and run okay. But a lot of times I'll receive a .pps attachment and when I try to open it, my computer locks up and I have to reboot the system to get the computer running again. Then I just delete the email, but some of them I'd really like to open and save.

I've updated my software and my computer. I'm running Tiger ver 10.4.11. Hope someone can help.

 

[Kit]

Powerpoint has problems on some files, most noticeable on PPS files.
There is a way to recover control of your computer without having to reboot.
When you get the beachball "of death", try this:
1) press the following three keys together: [Command]+[Option]+[Esc]
The Command key is by the spacebar, like a flower or clover. The Option key is right beside it. Esc is in the top left corner.
2) A dialog should come up. Choose PowerPoint and then press Enter twice. Sometimes, the mouse won't seem to respond, so do it all with the keyboard (with the arrow keys).

If you really really want to see that file, there is a way, but it requires some tinkering. You need to rename the file from .PPS to .PPT

What causes this problem? Apparently, PowerPoint 2004 cannot handle well some files that have "special" features, such as sounds and some videos and transitions.

Other places discussing this:
<http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/PowerPoint/326>
<http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/PowerPoint/94>
<http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/PowerPoint/255>

- Kit
[kervas over at gmail ]