Wanting to read files on old CD...

Tepelus · Oct 16, 2011

Okay, I have an old CD-RW with some old files that I want to open, but unfortunately they were saved using Works and I do not have Works, nor do I want to purchase the program. Is there anything I can do?

hammerklavier · Oct 16, 2011

Have you tried opening the files in Word? I would try that first.

If the files are not too big, you open them in Wordpad or some other text editor and delete all the formatting garbage characters, then save as a text file.

Tepelus · Oct 16, 2011

I don't have Word, and I just used wordpad, and, um...yeah. It's all a bunch of symbols and mumbo jumbo letters and numbers.

alleycat · Oct 16, 2011

You could use an online converter to convert the Works files to Word, then they could be opened with LibreOffice (a free program).

Or, find a friend who uses Word and have them convert them. They might need to download a free converter from Microsoft.

kct webber · Oct 16, 2011

Open Office will open Works files. It's an open office suite like Word. It's a free download. http://www.openoffice.org/

kct webber · Oct 16, 2011

alleycat said:
You could use an online converter to convert the Works files to Word, then they could be opened with LibreOffice (a free program).

Or, find a friend who uses Word and have them convert them. They might need to download a free converter from Microsoft.

I just saved a Works file from my friend's computer to a flash drive, then opened it directly with Open Office. No conversion needed. I see no reason why Libre wouldn't do the same, given that it's the same program, essentially. Unless I'm missing something.

alleycat · Oct 16, 2011

kct webber said:
I just saved a Works file to from my friend's computer to a flash drive, then opened it directly with Open Office. No conversion needed.

I didn't think OO or LO could open a Works file directly.

Thanks for the information.

kct webber · Oct 16, 2011

I didn't know either. That's why I tried it. :tongue

Tepelus · Oct 16, 2011

I have Open Office and it doesn't want to open the file. It's a very old file, I think it may be corrupted. I'm trying to convert it with Zamzar right now to see if it'll work. Waiting on the email from them. Also, I had other files on this disk as well, but when I put in the CD and it shows what's on there, it doesn't show anything but two files, and I know there was more. I also have a second disk but the computer can't read anything on that one, and again, I know there is something on it. Probably files so old this new computer can't acknowledge them.

alleycat · Oct 16, 2011

You might have to use the free MS converter to change (upgrade) the Works file, then it might open in OO.

alleycat · Oct 16, 2011

Are these personal files? If not, I'd be glad to try to open them in Word for you and send them back as .doc files, then you could open them in OO.

Tepelus · Oct 16, 2011

Okay, got the email from Zamzar, and it worked! Now, if only I knew what happened to those other files?

Tepelus · Oct 16, 2011

I'm a dummy, I found the other files, they were on another disk, but they look like they need to be converted to read them too. Tomorrow it'll be my task. Now I go to bed.

Tepelus · Oct 16, 2011

And thank you all for trying to help me. I appreciate it!

areteus · Oct 17, 2011

BTW, the file that opened as symbols... those symbols are formatting bumf. Did you scroll down all through the file to the end? Cos often you will find the plain text sandwiched between two massive blocks of those fomatting codes. All it means is that the program you are using doesn't recognise those codes (and why should it, they're Works codes) but it will recognise the plain text of your actual content which can then be copied and pasted into a new document and saved.

Alternatively, a search on ebay or online may get you a cheap copy of works from someone that you can install and use... it may even be out there as a free download by now.

Tepelus · Oct 17, 2011

I did scroll through all the way to the end, it did have the words there, but they were all compressed into one huge block of text and no formatting whatsoever and would have been a nightmare to fix, since the file was over 300 pages long!

What I was opening was the old version of my novel, there are some things in there I want to borrow for the new version I'm rewriting, and that file is very old. Unfortunately, the file for the sequel seems to have vanished from the disk somehow, or the computer just doesn't recognize it at all, but that's okay, it was crap and I didn't write much of it, and I still remember most of it so it won't be hard to write it again.

pangalactic · Oct 17, 2011

I haven't tried this to see if it works, but have you tried uploading the file to Google Docs and having it convert it to a format you'll be able to open?

fivetoesten · Oct 17, 2011

this thread supports the argument against closed file formats...

Matera the Mad · Oct 17, 2011

Tepelus said:
...Also, I had other files on this disk as well, but when I put in the CD and it shows what's on there, it doesn't show anything but two files, and I know there was more. I also have a second disk but the computer can't read anything on that one, and again, I know there is something on it. Probably files so old this new computer can't acknowledge them.

It's not that the files are so old, but that the CD's filesystem is archaic. Things have changed a lot over the years. A very old computer would not be able to read anything burned in a modern machine. It could be corrupted, too. I'm sure the files could be recovered with the right software if the CD is not badly damaged.

Tepelus · Oct 17, 2011

I wonder if my boyfriend's old computer will be able to read them. My old one used to until the hard drive kicked it. I could try one of these days, reformat the files and send them to my email. Hmmm.

BDSEmpire · Oct 18, 2011

A handy tool to check whether an old CD has any data lingering or not is ISOBuster. http://www.isobuster.com/ It's a pay program but you can run it on your disc to see if there's anything retrievable on there.

Getting your old files out of the Works format and into something modern may be do-able with the free Works 6-9 converter from Microsoft and a copy of Word 2003. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=12 You can use that program to convert the older format into something readable.

You've already got some help on converting a couple of your files but try ISOBuster and see if that other disc has any data on it. There are a lot more options once that is known.

Carmy · Oct 25, 2011

This might work, but I don't know if it would conflict with the current version you have.

Word comes with Works included, as far as I know. If you Google "Download Word 2003 Free", a few links come up. I haven't used any of them so the risk of downloading a virus with the program is yours. I believe Softonic is a trustworthy site.

Hope this helps.

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