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Hemlock50 · Nov 8, 2009, 07:20 AM

Hi,
I recently bought a new HP desktop that has Vista for the OS. I like it very much, but I can't open any email attachments that are .pps. When I try to open them, I get a message basically saying I don't have a program association with it for performing this action & to set an association in the "Set Associations control panel.
However, when I go to the Control panel, I have Microsoft Power Point Slide Show which is suppose to handle .pps attachments. I also have OPenOffice.org downloaded which is what I had on my old computer & it opened the pps attachments fine.
For some reason, neither this program or Microsofts Power Point will open pps attachments.
I'm not too good with computers, so I don't know how to proceed from here to open these attachments. Your help would be appreciated. Thanks.

ScottGem · Nov 8, 2009, 07:46 AM

Where in Control Panel did you go? What you should do (besides upgrading to Win 7 which should be free if you bought the laptop after 6/26) is save one of those files on your hard drive then right click and select Open With. Select either the Power Point Slide show or Open Office and check off the always open with box.

Hemlock50 · Nov 8, 2009, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Where in Control Panel did you go? What you should do (besides upgrading to Win 7 which should be free if you bought the laptop after 6/26) is save one of those files on your hard drive then right click and select Open With. Select either the Power Point Slide show or Open Office and check off the always open with box.

From the Control Panel I went to Default Programs. From there I clicked on... Make a file always open in a specific program. From there I got.. Associate a file type or protocol w/specific program. I then clicked on pps & it shows Microsoft Power point to open that file.
That's as far as I've gotten at this point.
I have upgraded to Win. 7 & they're suppose to mail the disk, but as of yet have heard nothing. Did that about a week ago.
Not sure what you mean by save one of those files on hard...
I'm VERY green when it comes to computers.

GrantHillsSA · Nov 8, 2009, 09:48 AM

Try this:

For .PPS files

* Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
* Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPointViewer.SlideShow.11\sh ell\Show

* Right-click Show and click Rename
* Type the word Open so that Show is replaced by Open command
* If you have PowerPoint Viewer 2007 installed, repeat the above steps in this key, as well:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPointViewer.SlideShow.12\sh ell\Show

* After changing Show to Open, close Registry Editor window.

For .PPT files

* Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
* Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPointViewer.Show.11\shell\S how

* Right-click Show and click Rename
* Type the word Open so that Show is replaced by Open command
* If you have PowerPoint Viewer 2007 installed, repeat the above steps in this key, as well:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PowerPointViewer.Show.12\shell\S how

* After changing Show to Open, close Registry Editor window.

Cheers
Grant

ScottGem · Nov 8, 2009, 02:57 PM

There is no need to go into the Registry and I would NOT recommend it for a novice.

If you right click on an attachment it will ask if you want to save it. Save it to your desktop or a folder on your C drive, then do what I said about using Open With,

Hemlock50 · Nov 8, 2009, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

There is no need to go into the Registry and I would NOT recommend it for a novice.

If you right click on an attachment it will ask if you want to save it. Save it to your desktop or a folder on your C drive, then do what I said about using Open With,

Yeah, I didn't even consider doing any of what GrantHills posted as it seemed way too much trouble for doing what I want.
I did as you suggested & that did the trick. Pretty simple, but still not as simple as my old computer (Win XP) using OpenOffice.org. Then I would simply open the attachment after I clicked on the email & I'd be in in business. I thought it would be the same with the new computer, but apparently not. So now I have to save any pps attachments 1st before I can open them? Like I said, that step wasn't necessary before & why I was having this problem.
Is this because of Vista?
Anyway, thank you for your help... very much appreciated.

ScottGem · Nov 8, 2009, 07:41 PM

You need to understand what association is. This is the feature that has been in Windows forever. It allows you to select a file to open so it opens with the program that uses that file format. Once a file is associated with a program, double clicking that file in Windows Explorer or an e-mail, will open the associated program. What I told you to do associated the PPS format with the PowerPoint player.

Once that association is create you will be able to open the file from an e-mail.

When you started using a new machine it didn't have those associations. They are generally created when you install software.

Hemlock50 · Nov 8, 2009, 09:51 PM

OK, I understand what you're saying. However, I just tried another email with a pps attachment & double clicking on it did not open it.
I had to go through the same process of saving it first (in Documents) & then I could open it.
So something still isn't right.

ScottGem · Nov 9, 2009, 05:03 AM

Did you make sure to check the Always Open With check box (lower left corner, I think)?

Hemlock50 · Nov 9, 2009, 06:14 AM

It shows it being checked, but putting the mouse on it doesn't allow it to be checked or unchecked. So although there is a check in the box, it doesn't get highlighted (for lack of a better word) when you put the mouse there, if you want to change it.

ScottGem · Nov 9, 2009, 06:55 AM

Hmm, if its checked it should always open attachments using that program. There may be an issue with the E-mail program you are using.

Also check your security settings. Vista may be blocking opening attachments directly as a security measure.

Hemlock50 · Nov 9, 2009, 07:17 AM

OK, I'll look into that. I'm using Windows Mail now, but was using an older version of Outlook Express on my old computer. Could it also be related to my anti-virus? I'm using ZoneAlarm.

Hemlock50 · Nov 9, 2009, 08:01 AM

Well I looked around & don't see anything checked that would block opening these attachments. But maybe I haven't looked everywhere I should.
I'll have to get a buddy of mine here & see if he can find out what the problem is. He's computer savvy, so hopefully he'll find the solution.
Thanks again for your help.