Office v.X 10.1.6 Update: Problem opening existing PowerPoint files; French version erases apps?

On Tuesday, Microsoft also released updates to Office v.X and Office 2001. We've received a few reports of issues with the v.X update, mainly focusing on PowerPoint v.X, but also involving problems with the French version of the update and general application freezes.

Problems opening existing PowerPoint Files Yesterday we covered a report of problems opening existing PowerPoint files after installing the Office v.X 10.1.6 update. Specifically, PowerPoint displays an error message that it cannot read the file. We've since received a number of confirmations of this issue. However, reader Stanley Weber reports that not all files are affected:

"I just applied Office v.X 10.1.6 update and can confirm that there is a problem opening PowerPoint presentations. The only one that opened had no graphics."

We're looking for more information from readers experiencing this bug: Are only those PowerPoint files that contain graphics affected? Drop us an email at Late-breakers@macfixit.com to let us know.

French version of update erases applications? Although it's possible this is coincidental, we've now received three reports from readers that the French version of the update deleted the Office application files completely. For example, Michael Hinchliffe writes:

"I downloaded the French version of this security update, and did the installation. Towards the end of the process I got an error message and then discovered the upadater had purely and simply wiped out Word, Excel, PowerPoint! I had backups on an external drive and wasn't inconvenienced, [but] I've since discovered drom the MacUpdate site that several other users of the French update have had exactly the same experience."

Applications freezing We've also received a few isolated reports of Office v.X applications freezing after the update. Red Chasteen writes:

"Installed the Office 10.1.6 upgrade [on a ] Mac 733 MHz G4; 256 MB; OS 10.3.5...Excel and PowerPoint won't run -- that is they freeze upon opening and have to be force quit. Word is also hosed and freezes when loading existing documents or even typing a single character. Rebooting and repairing permissions, TechTool Pro 4.03 scanning, and Drive 10 don't help."

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