PPT can't read files after SP-3 update

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ronald Kluger
  • Start date Start date
R

Ronald Kluger

I updated PPT 2002 in Office XP with the latest update,
SP-3. I get an error message in trying to open any file
that PowerPoint cannot open the file - and it can't. This
error also applies to Word and Excel files and their
programs. I had to remove and reinstall Office XP to get
the files recognized. I'd like to have all the security
patches in place. Does this ring any bells?
 
-----Original Message-----
Mmm, do you have Norton Antivirus installed?
Click to expand...
Yes - and I saw the faq about Office macro blocking - and
I've seen that in action. This is a total dysfunction. If
NAV were the problem I wouldn't be able to access the
files on reinstalling the program either. But go on
please..
 
Yes - and I saw the faq about Office macro blocking - and
I've seen that in action. This is a total dysfunction. If
NAV were the problem I wouldn't be able to access the
files on reinstalling the program either. But go on
please..
Click to expand...

Well, I suggest disabling the NAV Office plugin.
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00339.htm has instructions and some links
to information on Office and other service pack versions in combination with
NAV (although it seems we may need to update that info to reflect the same
issue with SP-3. I'll have to look for those KB articles).

The reason it may work upon reinstall is a) you haven't also reinstalled the
SP yet, or b) there's something about the order of install (NAV existing
then Office and/or Office SP is installed or vice versa) which causes this
issue.

Please let us know if this works.
 
Echo S said:
The reason it may work upon reinstall is a) you haven't also reinstalled the
SP yet, or b) there's something about the order of install (NAV existing
then Office and/or Office SP is installed or vice versa) which causes this
issue.
Click to expand...

Oh, or c) because SP-3 also includes the updates from SP-2 and SP-1, and
SP-2 was where this issue first showed up.
 
Please let us know if this works.
Click to expand...
Sorry - it didn't work. I have the latest update of
Symantec AV and I had dumped it. I installed SP3. The fiel
open preview clearly shows the slides but I always get the
error message "Power point can't open the file ...[path]".
I am using Windows XP Home and I ran msconfig to go into
diagnostic mode. Is it possible that the file structure is
altered? This makes no sense to me. The file are there and
the program is running fine - my guess is that it is not
finding the file. Again, this is reversed if I uninstall
office and reinstall the original version of XP or 2003. I
welcome any help.
Ron
 
I uninstalled all of Office and then went through all
files and the registry to clear remainders. I tried
installing Office 2003. Even without SP it wouldn't open
files. So I removed it and reinstalled Office XP. This was
able to open files. Tried SP-3 - couldn't read files.
Removed and reinstalled native Office XP. So in some
update to Office XP, which is carried into Office 2003,
the inability to read files occurs. I am frustrated that
MS itself does not have a way to deal with this - I paid
for a product that has a flaw in my system. I removed
antivirus software too. Is there a difference in how files
are handled?
 
I understand your frustration, and I don't blame you for it. I've asked MS
for ideas about this, but I haven't heard anything back yet.

Office 2003 has a "critical patch" update which should be installed to
resolve file opening problems.

Office XP SP-2 conflicted with Norton AntiVirus (and some other AV programs,
I believe), which necessitates disabling that plug-in -- or at least getting
an update from NAV.

I suspect that the issue with Office XP SP-3 is related somehow to that SP-2
issue with NAV, but I don't know what it is exactly or, more importantly,
how to fix it. I wish I did.

I will let you know if I find out any additional information.

Re
Is there a difference in how files
are handled?
Click to expand...

The file format itself for PPT 97, 2000, XP (aka 2002) and 2003 is the same,
although PPT 2002 and 2003 seem to stumble on things it considers "damaged"
in a file. That's why the Critical Update for Office 2003 is necessary.
 
Ok, MS confirms that this initially occurred in Office XP SP2, so if you
updated from SP1 or RTM, then you're seeing this for the first time. That
could explain the problem.

Something else another MVP pointed out to me -- simply uninstalling Norton
won't necessarily do the trick.

If Norton AV was installed at one time then the DLL for the Office Plug-in
could still be registered.

Search for : officeav.dll

If you find it then go to Start/Run and run the following command:

regsvr32 /u "<path>\officeav.dll"

Here is a KB article that provides a few additional details. It does
not include information on Norton CE but it will contain additional
details on the unregister command if you need them:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329820

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com


Echo S said:
I understand your frustration, and I don't blame you for it. I've asked MS
for ideas about this, but I haven't heard anything back yet.

Office 2003 has a "critical patch" update which should be installed to
resolve file opening problems.

Office XP SP-2 conflicted with Norton AntiVirus (and some other AV programs,
I believe), which necessitates disabling that plug-in -- or at least getting
an update from NAV.

I suspect that the issue with Office XP SP-3 is related somehow to that SP-2
issue with NAV, but I don't know what it is exactly or, more importantly,
how to fix it. I wish I did.

I will let you know if I find out any additional information.

Re
Is there a difference in how files
are handled?
Click to expand...

The file format itself for PPT 97, 2000, XP (aka 2002) and 2003 is the same,
although PPT 2002 and 2003 seem to stumble on things it considers "damaged"
in a file. That's why the Critical Update for Office 2003 is necessary.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

I uninstalled all of Office and then went through all
files and the registry to clear remainders. I tried
installing Office 2003. Even without SP it wouldn't open
files. So I removed it and reinstalled Office XP. This was
able to open files. Tried SP-3 - couldn't read files.
Removed and reinstalled native Office XP. So in some
update to Office XP, which is carried into Office 2003,
the inability to read files occurs. I am frustrated that
MS itself does not have a way to deal with this - I paid
for a product that has a flaw in my system. I removed
antivirus software too. Is there a difference in how files
are handled?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I tried one more thing: deleted XP, installed Office
2003. Then updated with all the patches. Still doesn't
read any Office files. I note that the error messages on
each app are slightly different. So I called Microsoft
Canada. They told me that they don't give help for
defects in the product - and because I bought in our site
license they will not let a tech speak with me. How is
Microsoft able to sell defective products and make no
attempt to fix them. I am not complaining about not
knowing how to use it. So I removed Office 2003 and
reinstalled Office XP with no updates. The attitude out
there is baffling.
 
I did so many installs and so many uninstalls that the
record is a mess - and there is Symantec NAV and who
knows what Dell installed on the original setup. Since we
have a site license for MS, I went to the people who are
supposed to know these things here since MS offers no
support. The response was that they have had the same
problem and can't fix it. I will follow your suggestions
and let you know. Thanks again.
Ron
 
I followed the steps below and it now reads the files. I
also did both the SP-3 and KB 833858 update afterwards.
Found c:\Program Files\Norton Antivirus\ officeav.dll
(probably was part of the Dell package - my own lient is
in "Symantec Client Security"
Run: regsvr32 /u "c:\Program Files\Norton
Antivirus\officeav.dll"
Got message that registry had removed officeav.dll

Installed Office XP
Performed updates
Files opened!

THANK YOU ECHO S
Ron
 
Woohoo!

Thanks for following up, Ron. I'm really happy to know you were able to
resolve this.
 
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