If you have Microsoft PowerPoint and are experiencing program errors, you can troubleshoot them and repair them yourself! If MS PowerPoint won’t load, don’t worry, all is not lost, you’ll be back up and running your business presentation, homework assignment or slideshow in no time.

However, if your error is an actual slideshow file error rather than the program itself acting up, you have a different problem on your hands than this article addresses.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 and above has a built in repair utility that can fix your MS PowerPoint Program errors automatically. In order to use this utility, you must have access to the original MS PowerPoint or MS Office installation discs as well as the CD key. The reason for this is that any damaged or missing program files will be replaced by originals located on the install discs.

This utility is appropriately named, “Detect and Repair” and can be found under the Help menu in any of the MS Office programs including PowerPoint. In fact, if PowerPoint is damaged to the point where it won’t even open, you can reach the Detect and Repair utility through the other Office programs.

Go to the Help menu and select Detect and Repair from its list. You will first see an option to save your program’s custom settings like your shortcuts, office assistant character, recently used documents, custom toolbars, views etc. Make your selection and hit “start”.

The Windows Installer begins and may prompt you to insert the installation disc into the CD drive. Go ahead and proceed. Even though it may look like a fresh install, it’s not. The utility is merely replacing damaged or missing files and correcting and registry entries. Rest assured, your data files are being left alone.

Once the process is complete, open PowerPoint and see if your problems are solved. If you are still experiencing PowerPoint program errors, go ahead and reinstall the entire program. This time you will lose your customizations because the whole program is being replaced. After reinstalling, check for any program updates and update them as needed. Once again, since your data files are stored outside the program in another folder, your data is safe.

If you’re still having errors after the reinstall, it’s time to do a little investigative work. First, check the knowledge base located at the Microsoft website. This knowledgebase is a library of Microsoft documents detailing known errors and their solutions. Use the search bar here to focus your search to the exact error you have by entering the error code or message, word for word and choosing PowerPoint from the list of products. The results will list only documents that contain your specific error. They will list symptoms and solutions.

Another good troubleshooting technique is to use a search engine like Google and enter your error message (again word for word). You’ll be led to discussion boards discussing the exact PowerPoint program error you are experiencing! Chances are, you will find a solution exists and is already posted. You can even jump in and ask your own question or give others advice on what has and hasn’t worked for your problem.

Troubleshooting your Microsoft PowerPoint errors can be a do-it-yourself job.

We recommend trying the Free Regcure scanner to see of your errors originate in the Windows Registry, as they most often do!