KB0209: I cannot repair my PowerPoint file with PowerPoint 2013 or later

Reproduction without thinkcell

The error can be reproduced without thinkcell if any code accesses the corrupt slides before the repair is finished. In the following reproduction, the PresentationOpen event handler calls code accessing all slides when the file opens, i.e., before the repair.

1. Open PowerPoint 2013 or later with a new empty file.
2. In PowerPoint, go to Insert > thinkcell > Tools > Deactivate thinkcell.
3. Press Alt + F11 to open Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications.

4. Add this code as a Class Module and name it cEventClass:

   Public WithEvents PPTEvent As Application
   
   Private Sub Class_Initialize()
       MsgBox "EventHandler is now active."
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub PPTEvent_PresentationOpen(ByVal pres As Presentation)
       On Error GoTo errHandle:
       
       Debug.Print "open file: " & pres.Name
       Dim i As Integer
       
       For i = 1 To pres.Slides.Count
           Debug.Print "Slide " & pres.Slides.Item(i).SlideNumber; " / " _ 
   	& pres.Slides.Count
       Next i
       
       Exit Sub
       
   errHandle:
       Debug.Print ("VBA Error: " & Err.Number & " " & Err.Description) & vbCr
   End Sub

5. Add this code as a Module:

   Dim cPPTObject As New cEventClass
   
   Sub Initialize_Eventhandler()
       Set cPPTObject.PPTEvent = Application
       Debug.Print "**** EventHandler active ****"
   End Sub

6. In the PowerPoint presentation window, press Alt + F8 to open the Macro window
7. Run the Initialize_Eventhandler macro.
8. Now open your corrupt PowerPoint file and try to repair it.