Word docs with Vista

[Lorna Allison]

Probably a really dumb question.

Having had my XP doc files transferred to replacement laptop with Vista, they then wouldn't open. Took it back to "the man" who geared up the Works programme to open them. Now all doc files are written in Works newest programme and, having sent stuff to a TS contact in Australia, he let me know that he did get to read them although it was not straightforward and the scanned images I sent were in a .rtf format which, from his description, was completely weird.

Had it been me receiving all that bosh I would have given up right away All I want is dear old .doc and .jpg

Am I stupid in expecting Vista to write .doc documents? I don't like the set up in Works for writing letters (although I can use it for reading .xls files.) I've been reading my Dummies book 'til I'm blue in the face but it seems to give details for all sorts of media stuff but no simple info re word processing.

Please can someone help me? Of course, I should go back to "the man". . . . . but sometimes that avenue seems to make more problems than solve them.

Lorna

[AndrewP]

Hi Lorna,

I would describe Microsoft Works as an economy version of Microsoft Office. The most compatible version between them is Rich Text Format (RTF), but it is a long way short of being a Word document. The best way of getting a Word document is to have Microsoft Word - on its own or as part of one of the many levels of Microsoft Office. Of course, the major down side of Microsoft Word or Office is that it is expensive (hence why new home PCs are more commonly pre-installed with Works).

All the best,

AndrewP

[Lorna Allison]

Hi Andrew

thank you very much for answering my appeal........but why, when I got Microsoft Word with my XP programme do I not get it with Vista?

I thought my "man" must just have managed to switch it off somehow and I should be able to switch it on again. Do you mean that I actually don't get Word with Vista?

If that is the case, I am a VERY, VERY, VERY angry lady

Since I've got Vista is it possible to get my documents, both old and new, to open in a previous Microsoft version by finding it on the net? Actually my previous laptop had been upgraded to Microsoft Office.


Lorna

[Thrall]

Hi Lorna, when you received your old computer - with Word - did you not also have a set of CDs if anything went wrong? Is there a Word CD somewhere in a shoe box waiting to be installed on the new laptop - assuming that Vista can cope.

Hope you sort it out,

Thrall

[trish1]

Hi Lorna

Microsoft Office (incl word) does not come as part of the windows/vista operating system. It has to be purchased separately (which you must have previously done)

I might have it wrong - but assume that you may have to buy a new version of Office (or word only ) for your new machine. Alternatively, if you have your original cds for your copy of microsoft office - this hasn't been installed on your new machine.

The more recent versions of office can only be installed on one machine - although maybe it is possible to transfer them. Your techo person should be able to explain this for you. I don't know if older versions of word will work under Vista - again a question for the techos

Trish

Edit: I see Thrall has said the same - I don't think that post was there when I started typing - Must be a slow typist

[emanday]

Hi Lorna,

My daughter has just got a new laptop with Vista. Works isn't part of Vista, but most new computers have usually come with it already installed.

She had been using MS Office on her previous PC and has simply removed Works from this new one and installed Office instead. The Microsoft licence only allows you to install/use on one machine at a time but, theoretically, providing you remove it from your old PC first, you can install on a new one.

[Tom-W]

You could try Openoffice which I'm now running quite happily on my home computer having got fed up with the price of Microsoft Office.

It has a slightly different feel to Word etc but for home use I think it's more than adequate and absolutely free. It will open all your old Word documents and you can save documents as Word for people who are using that.

http://www.openoffice.org/

Regards
Tom

[Lorna Allison]

Thanks so much Thrall, Trish, Mary, Tom

Right . . . . . . my old laptop had Word 2000, then a technical chap who was sorting something installed Office (then went bust). I did not have a disc, so no joy there then.

I do have the original disc which came with the machine.

I am attracted to the idea of Open Office and plan to take all your advice to my techno guy and get him to do it for me - just in case I do something horribly stupid. I know - it's pathetic, but I have little confidence in my own abilities.

Thanks to you all, I now know what I am talking about.

I can't understand, though, why Microsoft would want to take away the .doc/jpg scenario from their Vista package. Well, I suppose money will have something to do with it. My Techno chap says the short form for Microsoft is M$

Regards and thanks again

Lorna

[Lorna Allison]

Hello All

I collated all your helpful advice, consulted my local boffin and now I have Word transferred from my previous laptop and he was so sorry for me that he charged me - - - - -£5

Hoping my Word troubles are now at an end. Thank you all very much indeed.

When I asked him if there were many people having problems with Vista he Googled "Vista problems" and showed me the total number 5,490,000 and most of those items were for multi problems. But, Bill Gates is SUCH a success

Thanks folks

Bye

Lorna

[StewL]

Lorna

I have noticed recently that computer sellers over here in the West are starting to offer XP or Vista in new computers. Not long ago all new computers were being sold with Vista only.

I wonder hmmmmmmmmmmmmm