I get attachments from friends that I can't open and who say they have to be opened with powerpoint. I don't have that program. Is there any alternative. thanks

You can get a free powerpoint viewer from Microsoft at this link. Good for files from Office 97 up to Office 2003.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010798701033.aspx

There is also a PowerPoint viewer in OpenOffice.  It is called Impress.  The whole OpenOffice package is free.  You can get it from here - http://download.openoffice.org/2.1.0/index.html (at that site click on the green box that says Download OpenOffice.org and it will open up to show download links).

I downloade MS power point 2003 yet I still get a message:  Create an association in the  Folder Options Control Panel. do I need to do something more?

You can create associations in advance by going to Control Panel\Folder Options\File types and designating the powerpoint viewer as the program to use for the power point file extensions [.pot, .pps, .ppt].
Alternatively, you can simply open one of the extensions you received and when it asks what to open it with, designate the viewer you downloaded. Windows will then form the association for you.

Thanks for hanging there with me. The e-mail extension is .pps. I added that extension (and .pps and .pot) to new file types using my new program as you suggested to download. (the three indicate power point template, presentation and slide show) When I open the e=mail again I get the same request to open up an association, and it doesn't open it automatically. Many thanks to you and your impressive knowledge. bill

Right click on the file you want to open and select Open with. That should open a dialog where you can show what program you want to open it with. Below the list of programs, there should be a box that "says always open with this program". It is usually checked and will form a permanent association between the program and file type or until you go back and change it again.

I don''t understand the right click ON THE FILE YOU WANT TO OPEN. I click on the e-mail, as well as the attachment, and I don't know of any other choices that woiuld be the FILE YOU WANT TO OPEN. alll I see when right clicking those two choices is OPEN, Not OPEN WITH. It's ironic: I'm sure if you were here in person you coiuld show it to me in seconds. Thanks for you continuing help. bill

Hi Bill,

I have a friend who has the same problem.  Check out this site and see if it helps:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ppsopen.htm

If that fix doesn't work -- Try saving the PPS file from the email onto your computer (like onto the Desktop, or elsewhere).  To save the PPS file, just right-click on the attachment name shown in the email and you will have the option Save As.  

Then try right-clicking on the pps file saved on your Desktop -- and you will see the options mentioned such as Open With.

Anyway, hope this helps.
Laverne

Thanks. It worked!