After creating a new PP or after editing an existing PP the file locks up. I must clear using "Ctrl, Alt, Del". When I select the PP program the message I get is something like "Waiting for a response" yet no pop up for further action comes up and all I get is a "beep" whenever I select anything i.e., click anywhere on the screen. Therefore, when I click the PP on the "Task Screen" and close all my work is gone. How do I ensure the proper pop up to "save or save as" is activated? I believe the system is asking me for a "file name" but I don't know since there is no pop up shown.

I could be wrong but it sounds like you may have a virus on your system. Alot of people will say this is my answer to everything but you need to rule it out before anything else. Try a malwarebytes scan in safe mode and see if it finds anything first.