PowerPoint 2007 crashes trying to insert a video

Whenever I try to insert a video into a PowerPoint 2007 slideshow, it crashes. The path I use is Insert > Movie > Movie from file. When I click Open, PowerPoint crashes.

I need to get this video in there for my presentation, so this is kind of important.

 

In case this works for anyone else:
Issue: Powerpoint 2007 crash/hang when trying to insert video.
I read about turning off spell checker, windows defender, bad profile, etc but here it was it ended up being for me.
Under "Performance Options" if I don't have "Enable desktop composition" checked, Powerpoint crashes when I try to insert a video. I've always set to "Adjust for best performance" but, on my current machine, Lenovo W520 Windows 7, 64bit, Office 2007, it Crashes PowerPoint.

 

I am having the same problem with the same model machine--only difference is PowerPoint 2010. Where did you find the "Enable desktop composition" option? Is that in Windows compatibility settings, or something within Powerpoint?

 

Hi Tsalibob,

Is there a way I can contact you? I need your help in solving the same issue pronto! I am having no luck please contact me at <snip>

 

This was happening to us on several new Lenovo laptops. PowerPoint 2010 would lock up trying to insert or play any video or audio file, but it worked fine if saved as a 2003 .ppt, rather than 2010 .pptx.

After a call to MS tech support, turned out it was the factory-installed Corel WinDVD that installs some kind of audio file into the system. Uninstalled it, and PowerPoint now works beautifully.

Hope that helps others.