PPT97: "Mmsystem 296" Error When Inserting AVI or MPEG Files

ID: Q178307

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to play a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) or audio- video interleaved (AVI) video clip in Microsoft PowerPoint, you receive the following error message:

   Mmsystem 296: The file cannot be played on specified mci device,
   may be corrupt or not in correct format.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because PowerPoint cannot play some AVI and MPEG files if the file is associated with ActiveMovie.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, re-associate the AVI or MPEG file type with Media Player. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Select a file of the type (AVI or MPEG) for which you want to change the

   association.

2. Hold down the SHIFT key and right-click the file. Click Open With on the

   shortcut menu.

3. Click Mplayer in the Open With dialog box. Click to select the "Always

   use this program to open this type of file" check box.

4. Click OK.

ActiveMovie may have added a registry entry that re-associates files with ActiveMovie when you restart Microsoft Windows. If the entry is present, remove it. To remove the ActiveMovie startup item from the registry, follow these steps.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

1. Click Run on the Start menu and type "regedit" (without the quotation

   marks). Click OK.

2. Open the following key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

3. Look for the following ActiveMovie entry:

      Name                                      Data

      ActiveMovie File Extensions               "ActMovie.exe /Check"

4. Select the entry and press DELETE.

Additional query words: powerpnt powerpt power point ppt97 pp8 pp97 8.0 movies box

Keywords          : kbgraphic kbinterop kbole kbdta
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: November 25, 1998