How to Save PowerPoint 2010 Presentations to CD

When you create a PowerPoint 2010 presentation, viewers must either have PowerPoint 2010 installed or use the PowerPoint viewer. Both require the viewer to install software to view the presentation. If you save your PowerPoint 2010 presentation to a CD or DVD, the PowerPoint viewer is automatically packaged with your presentation. This makes your presentation ready to play on any Windows 98 or higher computer.

Create Your Show

Before your save your PowerPoint presentation, you must create it. You cannot make changes to the presentation after placing it on the CD. To make changes, you'll need to save a new presentation to the CD or create a new CD.

When creating your show, you'll have the option of embedding or linking files to your slide show. This includes images, other files and documents, narrations and sound effects. If you are using links in your show, place all the linked files in a single folder. This will make adding them to the CD much easier later on. This does not include hyperlinks to webpages. If you embed your files, they are automatically included as part of the PowerPoint presentation.

Save Your Show

Save your PowerPoint presentation by selecting the "File" tab and choosing "Save." You can also use the Office button at the top of the PowerPoint window. Select a name and location for your PowerPoint presentation. Leave the PowerPoint presentation open.

Save to CD

Insert a blank CD in your CD drive. In the "File" tab, choose "Save and Send." Select the option to "Package Presentation for CD." In the right pane, select "Package for CD."

Press the "Add" button and browse to your saved PowerPoint presentation. Note that you can add multiple presentations to a single CD. Press "Add" to add the presentation to the CD.

If you have objects linked to your PowerPoint presentation, press the "Options" button. Check the "Linked Files" box, which is located under "Include these files."

If you want to secure your PowerPoint presentation, select "Enhance security and privacy." Enter a password for your presentation. Only users with the password will be able to play the presentation. This is great if your PowerPoint contains personal or private data of any sort.

Press "OK" after you've chosen your desired options. Press the "Copy to CD" button to package your PowerPoint 2010 presentation on a CD. Do not interrupt the copying process or the file may not copy correctly.

Use

Insert the CD into any computer you want to view the presentation on. If you have multiple presentations, a menu will appear listing the name of each presentation. Otherwise, your default presentation will begin playing using the PowerPoint viewer which is packaged with the presentation on the CD.