Windows Media Player files (.asf files) are not recognized as sound files in PowerPoint

When you attempt to insert an Advanced Streaming Format (.asf) file that has only an audio track into your PowerPoint presentation, it does not appear in the Insert Sound dialog box, and you are unable to select it.

Because PowerPoint uses the Media Control Interface (MCI) technology to play back various media types, it can only list one instance of a multiple format file type such as .asf.

By default, MCI lists the video version first; therefore PowerPoint treats it as a video format. However, this categorization is used only for listing formats in MCI; the .asf file can be played back as a sound.

PowerPoint 2007

To work around this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Start PowerPoint, and then open the presentation that you want to use with the sound file.
2. On the Insert tab, click Sound, and then click Sound from File.
3. In the Insert Sound dialog box, select the location that contains the .asf sound file that you want.
4. In the files type list, click to select All Files(*.*).
5. Click the .asf file that you want, and then click Open.

PowerPoint 2002 or PowerPoint 2003

To work around this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Start PowerPoint and open the presentation that you want to use with the sound file.
2. On the Insert menu, point to Movies and Sounds, and then click Sound from File.
3. In the Look in list, select the location that contains the .asf sound file that you want.
4. In the Files of type list, select All Files(*.*).
5. Click the .asf file that you want, and then click OK.

Advanced Streaming Format (ASF) is a data format for streaming audio and video content, images, and script commands in packets over a network. ASF content can be an .asf file or a live stream generated by Windows Media Encoder. ASF content that is in the process of being delivered over a network is called an ASF stream.