Red X on slide thumbnails in Master View

The latest update to PowerPoint (not a Windows update) is supposed to fix or ameliorate the problem in several ways.

The problem, at least the one we all seem to be talking about in this thread, arises when some other program creates a lock on the PowerPoint file you're working on (or more specifically, the temp file that PowerPoint creates while you're editing the file).

This might be antivirus software, automatic backup software, file-synching software (OneDrive, etc) or anything else that monitors file changes and locks the file for any reason.

When PPT (pre-fix) tries to update the locked file, it can't;  worse, it can't *deal* with the situation properly and as a result, corrupts the presentation.

After the most recent update is applied, it tries several times to write to the locked file, giving the software that's holding the lock an opportunity to do whatever it's doing, and release the lock.  If the lock gets released, PPT can go on about its business, write to the file and all's well.

If the lock is never released for some reason, PPT can't write to it and will likely give messages about being unable to save, but should not corrupt the file, and should allow you to save it to a new name.

To learn whether you have the update that fixes (we hope!) these problems, go to File | Account and under Office Updates, check the Version.  It should be:  15.0.4615.1002

There's more about this specific update here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2878315

Mostly, it says the same stuff that I've said above.  

If you don't have that update level, you'll want to enable updates and choose Update Now.

Note that the update cannot repair files that have already been damaged.  Once the unpatched version loses images and corrupts the file, the data's gone.  The patch *should* prevent the problem from recurring, however.

This is Stuart on 6/5/14.  I agree that the Red 'X' is alive and healthy.  Still had the issues maybe 8 times today.  Also, i get a message that I cannot save the file frequently.  Need to save as a new name.

I had this problem again today. June 5, 2014.  I have provided details in previous threads and have run all updates that are available for Windows 8.1 and the hardware on my machine.  Where is MS at with resolving this issue?

I was able to get rid of this issue for a single file with temporarily opening the corrupted file, copy all slides and paste them in a new file and saved it locally. After closing and re-opening it, the issue was gone. This issue also appeared on PowerPoint WebApp.

Client System: Windows 7 Ent x86 (6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601) with Office 2013 pro plus (15.0.4420.1017)

The corrupted file was originally published on SharePoint v.15.0.0.4569

Alex

there are two different bugs.

The one reffered to above as maybe fixeddoes notdisplay images and instead shows a redX. My guess is you are seeing the other bug whick permanantly deletes images and makes the presentation read only.

MSFT have said in a thread here that this will be patched next week.