You receive an "Mmsystem 296" error message when you insert AVI or MPEG files in PowerPoint 2000

When you attempt to play a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) or Audio-Video Interleaved (AVI) video clip in Microsoft PowerPoint, you receive the following error message:

This problem occurs because PowerPoint cannot play some AVI and MPEG files if the file is associated with ActiveMovie.

To resolve this problem, re-associate the AVI or MPEG file type with Media Player. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Select a file of the type (AVI or MPEG) for which you want to change the association.
2. Hold down SHIFT and right-click the file. On the shortcut menu, click Open With.
3. Click Mplayer (or Mplay32, depending on your version of Media Player) in the Open With dialog box. Click to select the Always use this program to open this type of file check box.
4. Click OK.

ActiveMovie may have added a registry entry that re-associates files with ActiveMovie when you restart Microsoft Windows. If the entry is present, remove it. To remove the ActiveMovie startup item from the registry, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit, and then click OK.
2. In the left pane of Registry Editor, open the following subkey (folder):
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3. In the right pane, look for the following ActiveMovie entry:
   
   
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   Name	Data
   ActiveMovie File Extensions	"ActMovie.exe /Check"

4. Select the entry and press DELETE.