Opening old Power Point files

Anonymous

I have a large number of Power Point files that were created in 1995, 1996, 1997, and later using then current versions of Power Point (3.0 and earlier versions I think they were ... and since these were federal governement computers the operating system was probably whatever was before Windows 95). I upgraded to Windows Vista 64 anad a new computer in August 2009, with Office 2007 and recently needed to open a Power Point presentation from 1997 and use it the historical data in a new presentation. My computer wouldn't open the file and said that my current Power Point doesn't support earlier versions. I then tried to open the 1997 file one of my other computers that has Windows XP and Office 2003. The file wouldn't open on that computer either giving a similar message. I also have an antique computer with Windows 98 that isn't very reliable, some of these old Power Point files can open on that computer with a little animation of pages flying through the air saying it is updating from an older version of Power Point. I have hundreds of old Power Point files and some of them still have relevant historical information that I need to use occasionally without having to remember the details of what I put on them then. How can I open these old Power Point files on my new computer?

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Anonymous

I have a large number of Power Point files that were created in 1995, 1996, 1997, and later using then current versions of Power Point (3.0 and earlier versions I think they were ... and since these were federal governement computers the operating system was probably whatever was before Windows 95). I upgraded to Windows Vista 64 anad a new computer in August 2009, with Office 2007 and recently needed to open a Power Point presentation from 1997 and use it the historical data in a new presentation. My computer wouldn't open the file and said that my current Power Point doesn't support earlier versions. I then tried to open the 1997 file one of my other computers that has Windows XP and Office 2003. The file wouldn't open on that computer either giving a similar message. I also have an antique computer with Windows 98 that isn't very reliable, some of these old Power Point files can open on that computer with a little animation of pages flying through the air saying it is updating from an older version of Power Point. I have hundreds of old Power Point files and some of them still have relevant historical information that I need to use occasionally without having to remember the details of what I put on them then. How can I open these old Power Point files on my new computer?

I'm afraid 2007 won't open really old files (saved in '97 format or earlier I believe) but 2003 might. If 2003 won't, you need to find a computer running an older version and try again... There may be some 'issues' (particularly with animations from pre XP/2002) but at least you'll have a starting point. Once you have found a computer that will open the files this should help:

Batch re-save presentations; update older presentations to newer PowerPoint version

http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00740.htm

I advise you to update all the files when you find the equipment to do so :-)

Lucy

Lucy Thomson

PowerPoint MVP

an easier tomorrow

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42 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-11-02T19:46:35+00:00

This is not an answer "find an older computer running an older version"? Really?

I am a loyal MS user, ____ I even own a Zune because I dislike apple so much. But why is it the only answer to open old files is to find an old computer? I can go open files in AutoCAD 2012 from version 1.2 (circa 1986) and they work fine. No I cannot save them back, but I don't want to. I want to open a old Office file save it to the new format and reuse it...
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Anonymous

2011-01-13T23:23:48+00:00

Is this really the Microsoft way of doing business? You have to be kidding!
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Steve Rindsberg 99,176 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2011-01-14T16:18:25+00:00

>> This is not an answer "find an older computer running an older version"? Really?

It may not be THE answer you're looking for but it's an answer. Another is to use your current computer along with software like Virtual PC (free download from MS) or VMWare ($) to create a virtual computer, install Windows and a suitable version of Office on it and use that to convert your presentations to a more recent version that current versions can open.

>> I am a loyal MS user, ____ I even own a Zune because I dislike apple so much. But why is it the only answer to open old files is to find an old computer? I can go open files in AutoCAD 2012 from version 1.2 (circa 1986) and they work fine. No I cannot save them back, but I don't want to. I want to open a old Office file save it to the new format and reuse it...

Every company has its own policies for supporting "legacy" formats. AutCAD's policy is hugely admirable, no question. Some companies let you read (and perhaps write) only one version back, forcing you to stay on their upgrade path or stay put. Microsoft falls somewhere in the middle.

We may not like it, but that's the way it is. Really.

Steve Rindsberg PowerPoint MVP

PowerPoint FAQ

PPTools Add-ins for PowerPoint
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Anonymous

2011-03-01T17:06:28+00:00

I'm having the same trouble, trying to open 1997-era .ppt files with PowerPoint 2007. Not being able to open legacy files is a very poor decision by MS, IMO. What would it cost? The legacy source code exists already to read the old file formats. Maybe an extra couple hundred kbytes of executable code? Our company doesn't keep computers for more than ~4 years, and getting a copy of old software isn't easy, despite the free MS Virtual PC option. I'm hoping Open Office might work. I've just started the download ...
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