[Solved] Windows 8

[Louise]

Hello

I have joined after reading the various boards on here beforehand

After many happy years together I had to say goodbye to my old computer

The new one I have is windows 8 ....... and I really do not like it. I use a mouse as more comfortable for me

My old machine had

Windows XP with microsoft office word 2003

PLEASE ......... can anyone tell me if I can add/download Windows XP and microsoft office word 2003 to this machine

I use the PC a lot for printing at home

Thank you

[KenB]

Hi Louise and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help :)

 

can anyone tell me if I can add/download Windows XP and microsoft office word 2003 to this machine

You really don't want to go back to XP.

Not sure if you are asking if you can have XP on the machine at the same time as Win8 ?

This is called "Dual Booting" but again - you should be advised that this is not a good idea as Microsoft are withdrawing support for XP early in 2014 and your machine would then be vulnerable.

 

Regarding Office 2003

According to the MS Compatibility Center - ( click here ) it is compatible ..... but only the Standard version.

You would need the installation CD.

( not sure if you can only install this on one machine - I assume that this is the case )

 

 

There is, however, a totally free option.

Open Office - click here

This is totally compatible with MS Office.

With Open Office Word you need to be aware that this saves in a format that MS Word will not open.

You can, however, select a MS Word compatible format to save in. Not really a disadvantage ......especially for free :)

 

If you need more information .....just ask :)

[Louise]

Hello

Many thanks for the information

OK so XP is not a good idea

I will go into your links and see what I can do

Thank you again

I may well be back for some more help

Louise

[Starbuck]

You really don't want to go back to XP.

Not sure if you are asking if you can have XP on the machine at the same time as Win8 ?

This is called "Dual Booting" but again - you should be advised that this is not a good idea as Microsoft are withdrawing support for XP early in 2014 and your machine would then be vulnerable.

Follow Ken's advice.

Turn your back on XP and move forward.

As for the dual boot....... a good idea if you have XP and want to add Win8.

But don't try adding XP to a Win8 machine, you will have a lot of problems.

It took me about 2-3 days to become comfortable with Win8.

Although i did move up through Vista and Win7 ( so that made change a little easier).

Most people say they dislike Win8 because they are used to an earlier OS and keep comparing it.

Forget what you know about Win XP and give Win8 a little time.

Whenever you get stuck.... Google search for the answer and it all becomes clear.

[KenB]

As Starbuck says - Win8 does take some getting used to.

I have XP - Vista - Win7 and Win 8 machines.

Win8 is totally different and takes some getting used to.

It is, however, OK and I am now tending to like it.

 

Let us know if you have any more questions.

 

Remember - no question is a silly one if you don't know the answer :)

[Louise]

Hello

I am going to try and download the free Office version first

Thank you as I may have questions as I am not a whizz-kid

The Office side of windows 8.

I cannot find say for example A5; how to adjust margins etc

I click for england and still cannot find where this is

I may well be back - but thank you again

Louise

[Plastic Nev]

Just to add to all the good advice so far, there is also Kingsoft Office if not too happy with Open Office.

Kingsoft do a free version and a pro paid for, however I find the free version is more than good enough and prefer it to Open Office as it is a little more compatible with Microsofts Office and Microsofts Works Word.

 

http://www.kingsoftstore.com/

 

Nev.

[Louise]

Ooooops!

Did manage to download - I have an icon on my front page but when I click it - it keeps asking if I want to update it

I have to click an agreement everytime.

When I download it did'nt ask where I want to put it!

Is this nomral?

Louise

[KenB]

Hi Louise

 

it keeps asking if I want to update it

Is this Open Office from my link ?

 

If so - I have just download the latest version to update the one I have.

The Icon on your desktop should say "Open Office 4.0.1" ................does it ?

 

If it does - this is the most recent version and should not need updating.

 

I have to click an agreement everytime.

You should only need to do this once.

 

Let me know if it is Open Office and which version it says you have.

( I never got prompted to update my older version )

[Louise]

Hello

Yes from your link

I keep getting a message and at the top it says User Account Control

Then it keeps asking me Do you want to allow the following programme update

I say no

Then the whole lot disappears

I think I will try all again tomorrow morning. Give it a rest now as I am just going round in circles this earlier evening and now

Thank you

Louise

[KenB]

Hi Louise

 

User Account Control

This is not directly linked with Open Office.

User Account Control is part of Windows and it is there to monitor software being installed and then ask you for permission to allow it.

This does not mean that because UAC has popped up that the software is bad.

 

When UAC pops up - take a close look at what it says.

If "Open Office" or "Apache" is mentioned it is OK to allow it.

( Apache are the people who developed the software )

 

Let me know how you get on.

[Louise]

Yippeee!

Downloaded straight away this morning

Just once did that note came up

 

Thank you all for your help. I am sorted for now

 

I hope to plod along now thanks to you all

 

Louise

[KenB]

Thank you all for your help. I am sorted for now

You are very welcome

 

If you have any more problems you know where we are :)

 

Just a note:

If you save a document in the Open Office Writer ( Word ) it will save as a .odt extension

This is not normally a problem if you are using just this machine.

If, however, you wish to open this document on another machine that does not have Open Office on it then there may be problems.

 

All you need to do is when you click on File > Save As ..... where it says "Save as Type" ....... click the down arrow and select one of the .doc options

( Word 97 for instance )

Save it in this format and it will be able to be opened in Microsoft Word too.