revrobert's dashboard

I have MediaShout 3.5 build 727 and I have this problem on our church computer that I cannot load/show powerpoint ppt or pps files.
Windows XP Professional OS.
No internet connection on the church machine.

The computer has no MS Office loaded and has had PowerPoint Viewer 97 installed

The error message on loading a script with a ppt or pps file in a cue is
Error Code -2002
File path c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\My Shout\Thumbnails\slideshowname_749056_23052009124348\slideshowname_749056_23052009124348_1.cache

When I check those locations, there is a folder of that name in thumbnails but it is empty.

followed by something like "unable to load slideshowname.pps/ppt"

If I simply try and play the file in ordinary powerpoint viewer on the church computer it plays okay so the powerpoint 97 viewer application is registered to the two filetypes *ppt and *pps. And there is no incompatibility between the ppt and pps files I am creating back at home, and the Powerpoint 97 viewer when it is used on its own.

All works fine on my home PC which has MSOffice 2003 including Powerpoint and the same build of MediaShout

In my home PC (which has Office 2003) on which the script and the pps file was prepared there are files in that folder (with different numbers) with extensions
slideshowname_749056_23052009124346_1.cache
slideshowname_749056_23052009124346_2.cache
slideshowname_749056_23052009124346_3.cache

I have chased this up on the legacy forums etc. and see a lot of similar queries but no clear answers.

This is a MAJOR problem for us, as we are just trying to switch over to MediaShout, and I have spent the year so far learning how to use the program and now find that I am basically unable to use it to show powerpoint presentations using the recommended 97 viewer.

In the interim I am converting ppt files into static jpg files and I imagine I eventually will simply revert to using MediaShout in its native format, but not all of our guest speakers can do this, and the whole point of spending the large sum of money on MS was for its versatility. Aaaargh!!

I have checked the Tools - Settings - Pictures tab to make sure the playback engine says powerpoint viewer 97. I am unable to customise the location of the viewer in that menu.
It does have Corel Office applications on it (bundled) - could they be an issue?
Antivirus is McAfee - which we do not update as there is no internet connection.
I am willing to do some uninstalling of unwanted programs on the computer such as Corel and various other bundled software.
I would greatly appreciate some advice on how to troubleshoot this.
I am planning to take a copy of CCleaner to tidy out the registry after uninstalling unwanted software.
If I am to uninstall and reinstall MS and the viewer I would like a recommended set of instructions on how to do it, especially so we do not lose our imported media and Song library etc. on the church machine

MediaShout 3.5
I have a home computer with MSOffice and Powerpoint installed.
Our church computer just has Powerpoint viewer, so it can show slideshows prepared elsewhere.

Occasionally someone turns up at church with a slideshow, and I need to insert a slidewhow cue into an order of service, so that we can show the slideshow using the Powerpoint Viewer. But "Insert Slideshow" is greyed out, because the church computer doesn't have a slideshow editor installed.
Is there a way round this?
I realise that if there is ALREADY a slideshow cue in the script, then I can either duplicate it or alter the link to a different slideshow, but I cant insert a new cue from scratch unless I do it on a machine with a slideshow editor.

Newbie - training up on MediaShout.

On my manse preparation machine which is on the low spec side, I am getting stuttering sound when playing DVD clips in either Cue Properties or ShoutMonitor. I am in single screen mode, and I have NO problem when initially selecting the In and Out parts of the clip in the Insert DVD/Select Video-DVD window, when the DVD plays fine with excellent smooth sound.
DVDs also play fine in native Media Player with no resource issues.

I have ShoutMonitor set NOT to play dual, and sound editor is set to "None"

But as soon as the clip is selected and I fire the cue then the sound goes very stuttery as the cue plays in ShoutMonitor window or Cue Properties. I've tried different DVDs - same issue.

Everything is fine on the church playback machine - this is just a problem I am having during preparation on my lowly office PC

I have MediaShout 3.5, build 727 and have installed the K-Lite codecs according to instructions to solve an issue with commercial DVDs not playing at all on my home machine - that worked.

XP Home SP3, running MediaShout in a RunAs admin account, in a user account session.

I am ready to accept that it is a resources issue, and can live with it as selection and presentation are working fine, but if it IS possible to get playback working better on my preparation machine I would be grateful.
Upgrading the manse machine spec is NOT an option unless someone can recommend a very cheap option like a slightly better sound card (Currently using onboard sound)

Alternatively - suggestions about hardware settings welcomed.

I have been advised in the old Media Shout support forums to alter mpeg2 settings in the K-lite codec ffdshow - but no idea how to do that - I would need step by step instructions. I have installed K-Lite codec.

Many thanks.

Robert

Specs = this is my home PC used for service preparation - upgrade NOT an option at present. (the church presentation computer is a multimedia spec and performs fine.)
Windows XP Home SP3
AMD Sempron 3000+
1.8GHz, 960MB RAM

Windows Media Player 11.0.5721.5260
K-Lite codecs installed - no tweaking except as instructed in the forum thread on installing K-Lite codecs. K-Lite codecs DID solve the problem of commercial DVDs not playing in WMP and DID also solve the problem of getting certain DVD cues to work from within the DVD and not always starting at the beginning.

Foxconn760GXK8MC
On Board sound and graphics
SoundMAX integrated Digital Audio
SiS Mirage Graphics
Chip Sis 760
DAC Type Internal
Memory Size 64MB
Adapter String Mirage 2
Bios Information 2.03.00

AC'97 2.3 Spec compliant
Supports S/PDIF output
Supports 6 channel audio (setting via software)
Hardware acceleration - Full
Sample rate conversion quality - Best

Built in high performance 256-buit 3D engine
Support DVI for TV or LCD display

AGP 8X support
Universal AGP v3.5 compliant
Supports AGP 8x/4X interface w/Fast Write transaction