SUMMARY: Change the default directory where PowerPoint 2010 presentations are saved as well as where AutoRecover files are kept.
By default, as with other Office 2010 applications, Microsoft PowerPoint 2010defaults to the user Documents directory to save presentations. AutoRecover files, useful if PowerPoint 2010 or your system crashes before a document is saved, are placed in the user’s AppData directory. For example, on standard Windows 7installations, documents default to the C:\ Users\ YOUR_USER_NAME\ Documentsfolder, and AutoRecover files are stored at C:\ Users\ YOUR_USER_NAME\ AppData\ Roaming\ Microsoft\ PowerPoint.
If you have multiple hard drives and/or partitions, you may have one designated to keep data files and documents separate from programs and your operating system. Thus, moving these default locations to the other hard drive or partition might prove quite useful. And here’s how to do so:
1. Select the “File” tab in the Ribbon.
2. The Microsoft Office Backstage View appears. Click the “Options” button.
(Or instead of steps 1 and 2, press Alt + T, then the letter O.)
3. The “PowerPoint Options” dialog box appears. Click “Save” in the left pane.
4. Underneath “Save presentations”, next to “AutoRecover file location”, enter the folder where you want AutoRecover files kept. Note there is no “Browse” button, so type carefully!
5. Next to “Default file location”, enter the folder name where you want PowerPoint to save / open presentations by default. Again, no “Browse” button exists.
Note that if you enter a folder name that doesn’t exist, PowerPoint 2010 will warn you.
Changing the locations where PowerPoint 2010 stores presentations and AutoRecover files
6. Click “OK” on the bottom-right of the dialog box to close it.