Switching versions of Microsoft

ZannaPerry · Apr 3, 2011

Hello. Again... silly question but here in May I will be switching from an older version of MS to the 2010 package. I can get a great deal on it at my college so I'm going to snatch it up.

Although, most of my work of course is on the older version. So when I uninstall the old one and install the new one will all my writings automatically convert to the new one?

If not, what do I need to do?

Deleted member 42 · Apr 3, 2011

Are you talking about Microsoft Office?

ZannaPerry · Apr 3, 2011

Yes, yes I am.

Williebee · Apr 3, 2011

I want to say you will be fine, but just to be cautious, what is your current version?

ZannaPerry · Apr 3, 2011

My current version is Microsoft Word 1998.

Williebee · Apr 3, 2011

To be certain - are you saying that your computer is running Windows 98, and you are running Office 97?

Word 98 was basically an upgrade from Office 97.

As far as Word 98 files being opened in Office 2010 - Your .doc, .rtf. txt files should be fine. If you do any special formulas with your excel stuff (.xls) or access (.df) files, you may run into some problems.

More to the point? Are you getting a new machine to go with this upgrade? If you try to run Office 2010 on a machine designed to run Office 97 (in other words, a Windows 98 machine) it probably isn't going to run. In fact, it probably won't finish the install. According to MS, the minimum operating system is XP, Service Pack 3.

I haven't tried loading Office 97/Word 98 on a Vista or Seven machine... hmmm.

ZannaPerry · Apr 3, 2011

No. My current laptop is a Windows Vista and I've had Word 98. I want to get the newer version of MS Word meaning I will get Office 2010. It shouldn't make a difference, should it?

Williebee · Apr 3, 2011

Nope. Should be good.

One thing I would recommend (if you haven't already done so) is backup your documents, say to a jump drive, or to somewhere like Dropbox (free online storage). It's always good to have a safety net for documents.

Pretty much anything you want to learn about using Office 2010 is available on Youtube, btw. (Link is just an example.)

ZannaPerry · Apr 3, 2011

that's pretty awesome about the youtube clip. I will have to check it out. I have a hard drive already set with my files as a backup. But it shouldn't be any big deal just to copy and paste all my files to the new microsoft word, right? Or will they just convert themselves?

Whenever I need to print something from my computer I use a flash drive that I've written on Word 98. I then pull it up on a computer that has Office 2010 installed on it and my files from Word 98 automatically convert to Word 2010.

Williebee · Apr 3, 2011

Whenever I need to print something from my computer I use a flash drive that I've written on Word 98. I then pull it up on a computer that has Office 2010 installed on it and my files from Word 98 automatically convert to Word 2010.

Yup. See the post above about Office 2010. By and large you should be good to go.

Happy writing!

ZannaPerry · Apr 3, 2011

Thank you for all your help, Williebee!

Williebee · Apr 4, 2011

por nada.

Switching versions of Microsoft

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Deleted member 42

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

ZannaPerry

^ Just Me & a Sharpie

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.