When you open a .PPS or .PPT file that came as a mail attachment in Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail, you may see the Open / Cancel dialog box. When you select Open, the following error may be displayed. This may happen even though you have PowerPoint Viewer 2003 or 2007 installed. However, the same file may open correctly when saved to disk, and then viewed. Note that this problem does not occur if you have Microsoft Office or PowerPoint installed.
[Error Message]
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel.
This error occurs if the Open command is missing for .PPS and/or .PPT file types. To resolve the problem, follow these steps:
Note: This article is applicable for Windows Vista or Windows 7 PCs, with PowerPoint Viewer (2003 or 2007) installed. For a Windows XP version of this article, see article Unable to open .PPS attachments directly from Outlook Express?
For .PPS files (Microsoft PowerPoint Slideshow)
1. Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
2. Navigate to the following branch:
3. Right-click Show and click Rename
4. Type the word Open so that Show is replaced by Open
5. If you have PowerPoint Viewer 2007 installed, repeat the above steps in this key, as well:
6. After changing Show to Open, close Registry Editor window.
For .PPT files (Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation)
1. Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
2. Navigate to the following branch:
3. Right-click Show and click Rename
4. Type the word Open so that Show is replaced by Open command
5. If you have PowerPoint Viewer 2007 installed, repeat the above steps in this key:
6. After changing Show to Open, close Registry Editor window.
Screenshot

(Fig 1) Show is renamed to Open
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Thank you so much – it works!
I have put up with this for so long…and to know it was fixed so simply I wonder why it took me so long!
merci, je viens de passer des heures sur window live pour associer le fichier qui ne voulait pas s’ouvrir, le tout sans résultat
avec ta méthode en 2 mn j’ai réussi
encore merci
Joel
Job done and it works just fine, cheers
I have Vista and following the above steps fixed my problems and now I can open Power Point .pps and/or .ppt files. Thanks a million.. Also it was very simple to do…
Hello again, the fix worked.. I went back again & checked the areas I supposedly changed & one still said open.. guess it didn’t take the first time. Sorry for the negative comment previously submitted.
The fix works perfectly
thank-you winhelponline :)
As for many with these buggy regisrty tweaks, I could now open PPV from WLM, but not from Desktop!?
FIXED!-
Be sure and uninstall old PPV/reboot before continuing!
1. FIRST install MS Word, Excell, PPV Compatibility Pack for Win 7 (X86, or x64)/reboot.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en
Now Install MS Word 2003 Pro (bought it relatively cheap on Ebay- Buy Now).
I used freeware Process Explorer (Download Cnet, Options Replace TM/reboot), to disable Explorer during install- When requested to do so.
Now do your MS updates/reboot “twice (any MS update!) & check for more…
ENJOY!
Scott :o)
Thank you very much it was really helpful!!!
My wife thinks I am pretty smart fo this perfect fix– Livemail not reading pps but with all associated and installed. You are the smart one– big thanks. Worked perfectly. Iam just curious where this problem originates?
Great! a fix, precise and to the point. Windows Vista Home premium SP2 with MS 2007 Office with PowerPoint Viewer 2007 installed as the default program of choice to open .PPS and now it works for Windows Mail attachments directly thanks to MISTER RAMESH. THANK YOU Dale