Old Word program compatibility

[joe]

When my old computer died with Windows 98 and Word '97 on
it, I got a new computer with XP and copied the Word '97
from the old hard drive. It worked, but when I opened it
I got an error message and when I double clicked on Word
files, they didn't open Word '97. Having long since lost
the old Word '97 set up disks, I tried installing my
daughter's Word 2002 -- not trying to violate licensing
agreements, just trying to get my old Word '97 to work.
That didn't work (duh). But now, when I try to open
Word '97, it won't open and I get a message asking me to
insert the Word 2002 disk...

Any thoughts on where I should begin in my efforts to get
my old Word '97 working in XP? I have been unsuccessful
with the "Compatibility Wizard." Even after using it I
get the same suggestion to insert the Word 2002 setup
disk...

[Sharon F]

joe wrote:
> When my old computer died with Windows 98 and Word '97 on
> it, I got a new computer with XP and copied the Word '97
> from the old hard drive. It worked, but when I opened it
> I got an error message and when I double clicked on Word
> files, they didn't open Word '97. Having long since lost
> the old Word '97 set up disks, I tried installing my
> daughter's Word 2002 -- not trying to violate licensing
> agreements, just trying to get my old Word '97 to work.
> That didn't work (duh). But now, when I try to open
> Word '97, it won't open and I get a message asking me to
> insert the Word 2002 disk...
>
> Any thoughts on where I should begin in my efforts to get
> my old Word '97 working in XP? I have been unsuccessful
> with the "Compatibility Wizard." Even after using it I
> get the same suggestion to insert the Word 2002 setup
> disk...

1) Visit the Office download page on the Microsoft site. Get the Office
"eraser" program that will clean up the failed Word2002 installation.

2) To get Office 97 to work, you need the Office 97 installation media and
need to run the setup program.

3) You can open your old DOC files with a free Word Viewer. However you
won't be able to edit thefiles.

4) There are other word processors that can open MS Word Document files,
however you will have a) install them and b) risk losing some of your
formatting within the document.


--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Mary Sauer]

You definitely need the setup disk for Office 97. If you install Word 2000 you can
open the Word documents from Office 97. Are you sure you have looked everywhere?

--
Mary Sauer MS MVP
http://dgl.microsoft.com/
http://mvps.org/msauer/
"joe" > wrote in message
...
> When my old computer died with Windows 98 and Word '97 on
> it, I got a new computer with XP and copied the Word '97
> from the old hard drive. It worked, but when I opened it
> I got an error message and when I double clicked on Word
> files, they didn't open Word '97. Having long since lost
> the old Word '97 set up disks, I tried installing my
> daughter's Word 2002 -- not trying to violate licensing
> agreements, just trying to get my old Word '97 to work.
> That didn't work (duh). But now, when I try to open
> Word '97, it won't open and I get a message asking me to
> insert the Word 2002 disk...
>
> Any thoughts on where I should begin in my efforts to get
> my old Word '97 working in XP? I have been unsuccessful
> with the "Compatibility Wizard." Even after using it I
> get the same suggestion to insert the Word 2002 setup
> disk...