Microsoft replaces patch that killed PowerPoint

Microsoft has replaced a patch for PowerPoint 2013 after finding it caused problems with the presentation app on Surface RT and Surface 2 tablets.

The affected patch, KB2920732 for PowerPoint 2013 for the Surface RT and Surface 2, was released as part of the February Patch Tuesday update for Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT.

The update was meant to improve stability when the tablets play animations, and fix editing and photo bugs. However, once installed, it left users unable to start PowerPoint 2013. Installation of the update would produce an error message indicating the POWERPNT.EXE file was a bad image.

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\1033\PPINTL.DLL is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error,” the message read.

Microsoft on Monday released a new patch, called KB2956149, to fix those issues, which it says occur “on Surface RT, Surface 2, and other devices that are running Microsoft Windows RT and that have Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT installed”.

Users affected by the buggy update can get more information in Microsoft’s support document on the issue. To install the fixes, users will need to have installed the updates KB2889846 for Office 2013 and KB2920798 for Office 2013.

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