I assume you are accessing the Base View command via the Home ribbon/View panel or the Layout ribbon/View panel? If not you might be typing the VIEWBASE command.
As you know you must be on a layout tab (I suppose that's what you are calling "Presentation Tab"?
There is no "M" option in the initial VIEWBASE command prompt so if the problem is present in all uses of the command you may have a problem with command mapping or alias-ing.
Blaine Young
Senior Engineering Technician, US Army