Issues after installing PowerPoint 2003 update KB2464588
Some users have contacted Microsoft support (and found their way to the blog comment feature) to ask for a remedy to the background images issue identified in the KB article relating to our PowerPoint 2003 April 2011 Public Update.
We had mentioned earlier that we intended to make a hotfix available as quickly as possible to address the situation. We have now posted an update to fix this issue. The KB article is here, and the download is here. You can manually download and install or deploy the fix. The new KB number is 2543241.
In our June Public Update release, we will release the update through the Automatic Update channel, where any remaining users will be updated with the changes.
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
The comment has been removedAnonymous
January 01, 2003
@Scytale - the new KB article contains this text: "Hotfix replacement information This hotfix replaces security update 2464588, which is described in bulletin MS11-022." Were you hoping to see something else?Anonymous
January 01, 2003
@Nick, Claudio - yes the update is global and should install on non English versions.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
@Mark E technet.microsoft.com/.../bb332157.aspx WSUS is a free service (as part of Windows Server) you can use to deploy updates to multiple desktops. blogs.technet.com/.../adding-cumulative-updates-to-display-in-windows-server-update-services-console.aspx is a post to help you get started in adding hotfixes to your update catalog. We are planning to release the fixes to these solutions in a future Public Update, and they will be available at that time as Automatic Updates. Our choice to offer these as hotfixes first is our choice to get the fixes delivered as quickly as possible.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
blogs.technet.com/.../issues-after-installing-powerpoint-2002-update-kb2464617.aspx A hotifx for PowerPoint 2002 has now been released.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
blogs.technet.com/.../may-2011-office-security-update-release.aspx Please note this fix is now part of the May 2011 Public UpdateAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Microsoft Team, yesterday evening you posted; "We are investigating the reported issues of PowerPoint 2002, 2003 and 2007 freezing, and we will continue to update the blog with plans to address that issue." This is an acknowledged issue impacting all XP SP3 Office 2003 user. Please provide status on the resolution plan ASAP. Notes: We've uninstalled KB2464588 and installed hotfix KB2543241, and the Powerpoint freeze issue remains.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
@Carol, have you contacted Microsoft support to raise this issue? (1-866-PCSAFETY), we have not been able to reproduce an issue like this internally, and your call may help us address any remaining issues. @Stefan, we're looking into a solution for XP as well. Stay tuned (this week) for updates. Apologies for the delay.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
We are investigating the reported issues of PowerPoint 2002, 2003 and 2007 freezing, and we will continue to update the blog with plans to address that issue.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
@Christopher Burger - we are working on a fix and will post it as quickly as we can. Again I would encourage those of you experiencing issues with PowerPoint freezing to contact 1-866-PCSAFETY (it's a free support engagement). This will create a support case which will provide you with the most current information.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
@Ian, I would recommend calling 1.866.PCSAFETY and creating a case. We have not seen reports of issues with Excel, so your assistance in helping provide envrionment data, sample documents and reproduction steps will be helpful to identify any potential issues.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
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April 24, 2011
The hotfix does not fix my ppt freezing problem. My ppt does not have any background images. It is a plain white background.Anonymous
April 25, 2011
What about Powerpoint 2002? When do you expect to publish a hotfix for 2002 users?Anonymous
April 25, 2011
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April 25, 2011
This patch is the English version, can be installed for the Italian version? thxAnonymous
April 26, 2011
I received a link to the hotfix for KB: 2543241 but I noted this is a ENU (eg. English). Can I apply surely this hotfix to a Office 2003 Italian? or the hotfix could be used only for an en-us version? Kind regardsAnonymous
April 26, 2011
I received a link to the hotfix for KB: 2543241 but I noted this is a ENU (eg. English). Can I apply surely this hotfix to a Office 2003 Italian? Kind regardsAnonymous
April 26, 2011
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April 26, 2011
I have installed the hotfix (KB2543241) but this still has not resolved my problem. We are running Windows XP SP3 and Offcie 2003 SP3. When we try to open an existing presentation that was created only last week. Some of the slides have data imported from Excel and whenever you try to move this data Powerpoint hangs. I can get around this by copying and pasting the data into a new file but i lose all the formatting Is this the type of error Microsoft are trying to fix?Anonymous
April 26, 2011
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April 26, 2011
Thanks, I go to tryAnonymous
April 27, 2011
What a terrible mess. Why does the new hotfix not actually state or reference the previous problematic KB? Even in the prerequisites it only states PPT 2003 SP3.Anonymous
April 27, 2011
I have deinstalled also all other MS office related security updates from 15th April, and powerpoint seems to be back to working fine again without reinstalling powerpoint entirely. I am frustrated, this problem caught me while I was under pressure having to create an executive presentation - which was delayed .... Greetings from Germany.Anonymous
April 27, 2011
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April 28, 2011
"In our June Public Update release, we will release the update through the Automatic Update channel, where any remaining users will be updated with the changes." Why do we have to wait until June when you know it is an issue for so many users and you already have a fix?Anonymous
April 28, 2011
Well, the automatic updates are annoying sometimes, but after many years this is really the first time, where it brings me into serious problems. I wonder really that I cannot just uninstall such a KB patch. And I do not just have a spare notebook and have to prepare a business trip. As others described the hotfix fixed the disappeared backgound images problem , but the freeze problems is still there, after 1 minute or so, so what to do? (XP, Office 2003) @MS team: "we are working on a fix and will post it as quickly as we can", are we talking about hours, then I am happy to wait? Or can it even take weeks?? Bye from Germany, where an American phone number for support doesn't help much, need a fix, really.Anonymous
April 28, 2011
This looks to get around the hanging problem in PowerPoint 2003 until MS can get a proper fix out: turn off the “Check spelling as you type” option in Tools, Options, Spelling and Style.Anonymous
April 28, 2011
I am still having problems with my powerpoint freezing. Is there any way to fix this?Anonymous
April 28, 2011
Still don't see a fix for Office XP. Anyone know when an expected fix will be available?Anonymous
April 28, 2011
Can this be imported into WSUS? It does not appear to be searchable in the Update Catalog using "office2003KB2543241ENU" or "2543241" or variations thereof.Anonymous
April 28, 2011
I tried calling 1-866-PC-Safety as recommended and it just continues to ring with no answer.Anonymous
April 28, 2011
Turning off “Check spelling as you type" fixed the issue of PowerPoint not responding/crashing. Thanks for the suggestion Mark. Now I just have to communicate to my users that they can turn that feature back on once MS puts and update out for this issue.Anonymous
April 29, 2011
I have Office XP 2002. The update had completely changed my powerpoint files (background, text) and was freezing when I attempted to do anything. I followed Wolfgang's advice and deleted all office updates and everything seems to be OK.Anonymous
May 01, 2011
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May 02, 2011
Is anyone having very similar problems with Excel 2003? I am having a very hard time finding any useful information beyond vague recommendations to "uninstall the update" without any specifics as to which update or whatever. MS doesn't seem to have a KB on the Excel issue either, great exposure on the Powerpoint problem, found the answer in five minutes, but Excel is a mystery and I am getting reports of problems here at work with Excel 2003 users on WinXPAnonymous
May 04, 2011
The hotfix does fix the background image problem (which was a big issue for us, since hundreds of people in our organization create PPT presentations using our company templates on a regular basis) - BUT - it did not fix the freezing problem. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. It is preventing users in my company from doing a big portion of their work.Anonymous
May 05, 2011
PROBLEM IS BACK -- background disappears & powerpoint freezes up. The hotfix worked fine last week on my pc after I removed the security update from Add & Remove programs. HOWEVER, the problem is back again today and downloading the fix is not working. When I enter the password for the self-extracting utility and click ok, what I entered disappears and it continues to ask for the password. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.Anonymous
May 07, 2011
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May 10, 2011
I just installed the lastest update, but PPT 2003 is STILL freezing.Anonymous
May 20, 2011
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