Why does Google Maps want to install PowerPoint

[Jim162NPR]

I have XP Home, and I have Office 2003 installed. Prior to that I had
installed PowerPoint 2000 (which I had transferred from my Windows 98
computer). When I installed Office 2003, I tried to uninstall PowerPoint
2000 but it seems to have some left some residue. It's listed on the
Add/Remove Programs list, but won't let me uninstall. Furthermore, when I
log onto some websites, most notably Google Maps, I get a popup box that
says, "Please wait while Windows configures Microsoft PowerPoint 2000." I
usually click the "Cancel" button, but if I don't get to it in time, the next
popup box tells me the feature I'm trying to access is on a CD-ROM or
removable media that is not available, and asks me to insert the Microsoft
PowerPoint disk. I don't suppose it hurts anything, but I would really like
to get rid of this annoying message. Any ideas?

 

[Jim162NPR]

It's not only Google Maps. Some other mapping sites do the same thing. I
can't remember which ones. I'll try your suggestion; however, I don't ever
run PPT 2000. In fact it's not even on my computer. I think my uninstall
attempt left some residue in the registry that PPT 2000 is trying to use to
resurrect itself.

 

[Jim162NPR]

What scares me is that the instructions on Microsoft's web site don't
recommend running this utility on any OS later than Windows 2000 and it has
not been tested on XP. In fact, it is supposed to be run immediately after
running the Setup program for Office 2000 and I have no idea where my
PowerPoint 2000 CD is. I had the full Office 97 Pro and then bought Word
2000 and PowerPoint 2000 separately, so I didn't uninstall Office 97 when I
installed both 2000 modules. Then when I got Office 2003, I simply
uninstalled 97 and tried to uninstall 2000 (apparently unsuccessfully).

I'm not sure I want to go traipsing through the registry searching for
references to PowerPoint 2000 and removing whatever data I find, but that
really seems to be my only option; other than ignoring the dialog boxes.
They are annoying but probably not a great risk.

 

[Jim162NPR]

That DOES sound intriguing. I just might give that a look-see. Thanks!