After installing the latest Office 365 updates - no effect - starting PowerPoint still results in the following error: c:\Program Files\Norton\Suite\aswhook.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try unstalling the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error status 0xc0000428. Am waiting on Norton to resolve this issue.
Ok everyone. Here are my findings on my Windows 10 Pro machine with Office 2021 Professional installed. I manually updated my product a bit ago. Please review the screenshot below:
*Please note that I am NOT on Norton version 24.xx, having reverted to version 22.24.8.36. The file aswhook.dll is NOT present in this version of Norton 360 Deluxe. Version 24.xx has the aswhook.dll file installed and it appears I have been half wrong about ai.exe in at least one manner.
The digital certificate for the file ai.exe IS VALID. Therefore that being said, I need to ask at least one of you to find the file ai.exe on your install. Right click on the file and select “Properties”. Open the tab labeled “Digital Signatures”. Please get a screenshot of that and post here for review. This will give us the opportunity to review and send the finding to the team who is looking into the issue. The error .
Thanks for being patient with this. No one is 100% right all the time and certainly not me. I DO appreciate everyone staying the course for a resolution as well. Lets see if the file aswhook.dll has a valid signature and go from there. If it does, there is a compilation issue with that file Norton MUST address.
SA
So do you want us to look at ai.exe or aswhook.dll? You mention needing to confirm valid signature for both.
Fixed!!!. Thanks [goltsman]
Guys, I had two different machines. One brand new laptop a few days old with windows 11 and office 365. Another desktop one year old with windows 11 and office 365 that did NOT have the 24h2 windows patch installed. Both started generating this same error message when I launched power point on 1/13/2025. Desktop seem to do it most of the time. Laptop was random.
I was bound and determined not to uninstall anything because it made no sense. I did what goltsman did. I launched powerpoint, when to Account, went to MS 365 Office updates. Selected Update Options | Update now. It updated pp on the laptop and on the desktop pp, word, and something else. For the past two days, the popup is gone!!!
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I can confirm this also worked for me - Win 11 / M365
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I’m on 23H2…worried about 24H2. Updated M365 (said it was already up-to-date but whatever).
Still nope.
I had the same issue since a couple of weeks. Today I tried this workaround in PowerPoint
- File - Options
- Trust Center
- Trust Center Settings …
- Trusted Add-in catalogues
- FLAG ON don’t allow any add-ins to start
- FLAG ON next time Office starts, clear all previously-started web add-ins cache
I relaunched Powerpoint and the message didn’t appear
Next I reactivated (de-flagged) both settings and the message didn’t appear
It worked also for one of my collegues
Try it and let me know
thanks
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Looking at both screenshots now. Thanks for posting them. My apologies for the tardiness, I’m battling a case of RSV the moment, getting on the forums here and there as I can muster the energy. 
SA
The aswhook.dll signatures look good. Earlier in the thread I had posted where the 24H2 may be the culprit or a part of it. Clc is on 23H2 and has the issue so that may rule that out for some. Still there is a common cause to find.
SA
I now have one laptop back on version 24.xx . Tomorrow after my errands I will look for this file in my installation to see what I can find my side.
SA