How to UNBLOCK a file
PowerPoint file won't open or gives error messages when opening
When you doubleclick a PowerPoint file or use File | Open to open an existing file, PowerPoint gives you an error message.
It might be any of several error messages, but the problem may be that you've downloaded the file from the internet or a network, or you've received it in email and saved it to your computer's hard drive. Windows has "blocked" the file and as a result, PowerPoint can't open it.
If that's the problem, the fix is simple:
UNBLOCK the file
To see if the file is blocked and if so, unblock it, do this:
- Right-click the file's icon and choose Properties from the pop-up menu that appears.
- Click the General tab of the Properties dialog box that appears:
- If there's an Unblock button, click it.
- Click OK and try opening the file in Powerpoint again.