Most things in PowerPoint can be done in at least three different ways. Starting your slide show is no exception. Actually, there are at least six ways you can start you slide show but they fall into two categories: stating it from the beginning and starting it from the current slide.

Starting from the beginning

This is probably the most normal way to start a PowerPoint: Slide 1.  Whether you powerpoint has 2 slides or two hundred, this will start you with the very first slide. To do this you can

1. Hit the "F5" key on your keyboard.

-OR-

2. Click the "Slide Show" tab. Then click "From Beginning" on the tab that brings up (It's all the way to the left).

-OR-

3. Click the "View" tab. Then click "Slide Show" on the tab that brings up.

Starting from the current slide

This generally helpful in two situations. One is when you have somehow exited the slideshow during a presentation and need to continue it from where you left off (I reccemond you NEVER exit during a presentation!). The other is when you are desiging your presentation and you want to look at it live from a particular point. To do this you can

1. Hold down the "Shift" key and press "F5" on your keyboard.

-OR-

2. Click the "Slide Show" tab. Then click "From Current Slide" on the tab that brings up (It's most of the way to the left).

-OR-

3.  Click the icon in the lower-right corner of the screen that looks like a portable projection screen.