What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

[Guest gfogg]

My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap top

with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in ME word

processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these old

files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

[Guest Heather]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

Have you heard of any of the following?? Jump drive, CD backup, to

mention a couple. You CAN transfer the files....but until you back them

up, you is out of luck.

 

"gfogg" <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3B84F117-9C8B-4ED3-9638-F1EF94F4565F@microsoft.com...

> My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap

> top

> with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in

> ME word

> processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these

> old

> files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

Windows ME isn't a word processor. The closest you can come is WordPad,

which is also part of Windows XP ( I don't know about Windows Vista, but I

presume it has something quite similar. Is WordPad the application you're

talking about, or do you have some other word processor installed? Microsoft

Word? WordPerfect?

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"gfogg" <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3B84F117-9C8B-4ED3-9638-F1EF94F4565F@microsoft.com...

> My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap top

> with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in ME

> word

> processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these old

> files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

[Guest Alias]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

gfogg wrote:

> My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap top

> with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in ME word

> processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these old

> files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

 

Get an external hard drive to back up your data. Back up is a computer

user's best friend.

 

Alias

[Guest Dapper Dan]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

I'm not sure what ME Word is; I suspect you might mean MS Word or more

likely MS WORKS. It's not the OS that will open these files but rather newer

versions of MS Word or MS Works will open older versions of saved files.

 

As Heather and Alias indicated, you will need some form of an interface to

transfer the files from your old computer to the new one, but this is not

overly complicated.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Dan

"gfogg" <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3B84F117-9C8B-4ED3-9638-F1EF94F4565F@microsoft.com...

> My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap top

> with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in ME

> word

> processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these old

> files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

[Guest Alias]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

Dapper Dan wrote:

> I'm not sure what ME Word is; I suspect you might mean MS Word or more

> likely MS WORKS. It's not the OS that will open these files but rather newer

> versions of MS Word or MS Works will open older versions of saved files.

>

> As Heather and Alias indicated, you will need some form of an interface to

> transfer the files from your old computer to the new one, but this is not

> overly complicated.

>

> Hope this helps.

>

> Dan

 

Maybe he or she means Word Pad that comes with Windows Me.

 

Alias

> "gfogg" <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:3B84F117-9C8B-4ED3-9638-F1EF94F4565F@microsoft.com...

>> My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap top

>> with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in ME

>> word

>> processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these old

>> files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

>

>

[Guest N. Miller]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:18:41 +0200, Alias wrote:

> Dapper Dan wrote:

>> I'm not sure what ME Word is; I suspect you might mean MS Word or more

>> likely MS WORKS. It's not the OS that will open these files but rather newer

>> versions of MS Word or MS Works will open older versions of saved files.

>>

>> As Heather and Alias indicated, you will need some form of an interface to

>> transfer the files from your old computer to the new one, but this is not

>> overly complicated.

>>

>> Hope this helps.

>>

>> Dan

>

> Maybe he or she means Word Pad that comes with Windows Me.

 

Or MS Works. My HP Pavilion 6745C shipped with Windows Me, and MS Works

2000. I just checked the Help | About in the Works Word Processor

application.

 

--

Norman

~Shine, bright morning light,

~now in the air the spring is coming.

~Sweet, blowing wind,

~singing down the hills and valleys.

[Guest gfogg]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

I thank all of you for your responses. Here's what I am asking: I have MS

Works Word Ver 6.0. When I buy a new computer, what softwear should be on it

to allow me to use all my old files? When I worked for a living, we had

Office (something?) and it had Word. Quite frankly I'm not real pleased with

ME or any of the softwear that comes with it for word processing and spread

sheets or for that matter the total lack of graphics. However, being an old

retired guy I didn't want to spend the money for more capabilities than I

would probably use. That desire still exists but I do need some sort of

softwear to open my old files and is still supported by Microsoft. I have

backed up my files periodically on disks. Abain thanks for all your help.

 

"N. Miller" wrote:

> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:18:41 +0200, Alias wrote:

>

> > Dapper Dan wrote:

>

> >> I'm not sure what ME Word is; I suspect you might mean MS Word or more

> >> likely MS WORKS. It's not the OS that will open these files but rather newer

> >> versions of MS Word or MS Works will open older versions of saved files.

> >>

> >> As Heather and Alias indicated, you will need some form of an interface to

> >> transfer the files from your old computer to the new one, but this is not

> >> overly complicated.

> >>

> >> Hope this helps.

> >>

> >> Dan

> >

> > Maybe he or she means Word Pad that comes with Windows Me.

>

> Or MS Works. My HP Pavilion 6745C shipped with Windows Me, and MS Works

> 2000. I just checked the Help | About in the Works Word Processor

> application.

>

> --

> Norman

> ~Shine, bright morning light,

> ~now in the air the spring is coming.

> ~Sweet, blowing wind,

> ~singing down the hills and valleys.

>

[Guest Alias]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

gfogg wrote:

> I thank all of you for your responses. Here's what I am asking: I have MS

> Works Word Ver 6.0. When I buy a new computer, what softwear should be on it

> to allow me to use all my old files? When I worked for a living, we had

> Office (something?) and it had Word. Quite frankly I'm not real pleased with

> ME or any of the softwear that comes with it for word processing and spread

> sheets or for that matter the total lack of graphics. However, being an old

> retired guy I didn't want to spend the money for more capabilities than I

> would probably use. That desire still exists but I do need some sort of

> softwear to open my old files and is still supported by Microsoft. I have

> backed up my files periodically on disks. Abain thanks for all your help.

 

http://www.openoffice.org/

 

Will support MS apps and it's free.

 

Alias

>

> "N. Miller" wrote:

>

>> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:18:41 +0200, Alias wrote:

>>

>>> Dapper Dan wrote:

>>>> I'm not sure what ME Word is; I suspect you might mean MS Word or more

>>>> likely MS WORKS. It's not the OS that will open these files but rather newer

>>>> versions of MS Word or MS Works will open older versions of saved files.

>>>>

>>>> As Heather and Alias indicated, you will need some form of an interface to

>>>> transfer the files from your old computer to the new one, but this is not

>>>> overly complicated.

>>>>

>>>> Hope this helps.

>>>>

>>>> Dan

>>> Maybe he or she means Word Pad that comes with Windows Me.

>> Or MS Works. My HP Pavilion 6745C shipped with Windows Me, and MS Works

>> 2000. I just checked the Help | About in the Works Word Processor

>> application.

>>

>> --

>> Norman

>> ~Shine, bright morning light,

>> ~now in the air the spring is coming.

>> ~Sweet, blowing wind,

>> ~singing down the hills and valleys.

>>

[Guest Mike M]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

> frankly I'm not real pleased with ME or any of the softwear that

> comes with it for word processing and spread sheets or for that

> matter the total lack of graphics.

 

As other have already said, applications such as word processors or

graphics tools are not part of the operating system be it Win Me or Vista

but rather applications. Some OEMs include some rudimentary tools and

applications with the PCs they build and sell, often time bombed, and

others none at all leaving it to the end user to decide what they want to

use and install.

> software to open my old files and is still supported by Microsoft.

 

Microsoft only support software and applications they produce, there being

many other companies that produce software not including Microsoft in

their name. It is for you, the end user, to check what software is

included with any new purchase. Many new PCs come with a trial or time

bombed version of Microsoft Office which will happily open files prepared

with earlier version of Office but will only do so for a limited period of

time after which the software will stop working unless you purchase it.

If funds are limited then I would suggest you follow Alias' suggestion and

download an install a copy of Open Office which is free.

--

Mike Maltby

MS-MVP Windows

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

gfogg <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I thank all of you for your responses. Here's what I am asking: I

> have MS Works Word Ver 6.0. When I buy a new computer, what softwear

> should be on it to allow me to use all my old files? When I worked

> for a living, we had Office (something?) and it had Word. Quite

> frankly I'm not real pleased with ME or any of the softwear that

> comes with it for word processing and spread sheets or for that

> matter the total lack of graphics. However, being an old retired guy

> I didn't want to spend the money for more capabilities than I would

> probably use. That desire still exists but I do need some sort of

> softwear to open my old files and is still supported by Microsoft. I

> have backed up my files periodically on disks. Abain thanks for all

> your help.

[Guest Heather]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

I have no idea what country you are in, but here in Canada, because you

are retired, you can buy WordPerfect at a hugely reduced *seniors*

price. This price is also for students and nurses. I got a copy of

their latest edition from a large computer store here which was a

promotional gimmick and only paid for the shipping ($5 maybe?).

 

Check around with computer stores in your area and see. Ask for the

seniors or student version. I much prefer WordPerfect over MS Word

anyway, and it will convert MS Word files to WordPerfect Files. Not

entirely sure about Works, but if you use an older version than I have

on here, it just might.

 

OK, I have MS Word 2003 on here and I just checked it and it will

convert your Works 6.0 to MS Word. But it costs a pretty penny.

 

Good luck from another "retiree"....Heather

 

"gfogg" <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A944FBCC-5A19-4E69-938A-1519D7980E2A@microsoft.com...

>I thank all of you for your responses. Here's what I am asking: I have

>MS

> Works Word Ver 6.0. When I buy a new computer, what softwear should

> be on it

> to allow me to use all my old files? When I worked for a living, we

> had

> Office (something?) and it had Word. Quite frankly I'm not real

> pleased with

> ME or any of the softwear that comes with it for word processing and

> spread

> sheets or for that matter the total lack of graphics. However, being

> an old

> retired guy I didn't want to spend the money for more capabilities

> than I

> would probably use. That desire still exists but I do need some sort

> of

> softwear to open my old files and is still supported by Microsoft. I

> have

> backed up my files periodically on disks. Abain thanks for all your

> help.

>

> "N. Miller" wrote:

>

>> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:18:41 +0200, Alias wrote:

>>

>> > Dapper Dan wrote:

>>

>> >> I'm not sure what ME Word is; I suspect you might mean MS Word or

>> >> more

>> >> likely MS WORKS. It's not the OS that will open these files but

>> >> rather newer

>> >> versions of MS Word or MS Works will open older versions of saved

>> >> files.

>> >>

>> >> As Heather and Alias indicated, you will need some form of an

>> >> interface to

>> >> transfer the files from your old computer to the new one, but this

>> >> is not

>> >> overly complicated.

>> >>

>> >> Hope this helps.

>> >>

>> >> Dan

>> >

>> > Maybe he or she means Word Pad that comes with Windows Me.

>>

>> Or MS Works. My HP Pavilion 6745C shipped with Windows Me, and MS

>> Works

>> 2000. I just checked the Help | About in the Works Word Processor

>> application.

>>

>> --

>> Norman

>> ~Shine, bright morning light,

>> ~now in the air the spring is coming.

>> ~Sweet, blowing wind,

>> ~singing down the hills and valleys.

>>

[Guest gfogg]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

Thanks to all of you for your help. I'm going to look at the OpenOffice

softwear to see if it will do what I need. I'm live in Arizona. Don't think

I could take the cold in Canada.

 

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> Windows ME isn't a word processor. The closest you can come is WordPad,

> which is also part of Windows XP ( I don't know about Windows Vista, but I

> presume it has something quite similar. Is WordPad the application you're

> talking about, or do you have some other word processor installed? Microsoft

> Word? WordPerfect?

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "gfogg" <gfogg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:3B84F117-9C8B-4ED3-9638-F1EF94F4565F@microsoft.com...

> > My computer is dying. Its old and pretty grumpy. I want to buy a lap top

> > with a more up-to-date OS but I have years of personal files saved in ME

> > word

> > processing. Can Vista or some other OS open, modify and close these old

> > files or am I just out of luck when my old computer dies?

>

>

>

[Guest cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

On Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:00:06 -0700, gfogg

>My computer is dying.

 

Details?

>Its old and pretty grumpy.

 

Them ain't details ;-)

>I want to buy a lap top with a more up-to-date OS but I have years

>of personal files saved in ME word processing. Can Vista or some

>other OS open, modify and close these old files

 

You've been dumbed down too much by the Windows UI :-)

 

Vista is an OS, acting as floorboards for your furnature

(applications). It is applications that "open" word processing and

other files. So what you need to know is:

- will your existing applications install and work on Vista?

- do you have the disks, product keys etc. to install these apps?

 

You also need to do an inventory of:

- all your data files; where they are, etc.

- all the apps needed to use these files

- your installation disks etc. for these apps

 

Some apps are so tightly bound to thier data, that prising the data

out of them is a difficult business. Consider:

- favorites, bookmarks, address books, other "embedded" data

- accounting packages

- Outlook

 

Some apps chain your data to them, so that nothing else can "open" the

files. Further, some apps chain data to a specific version of

themselves, e.g. an old vresion of Outlook may not be able to read

data from a newer version of Outlook.

 

It gets worse; some apps are themselves chained to other application

packages (e.g. Outlook is chained to MS Office) or the OS (e.g.

Outlook Express XP is chained to XP, won't work in Vista).

 

Usually, a newer version of an app can convert data from an old

version of itself (e.g. Outlook Express 5 converting mail stores from

Outlook Express 4) but this is almost always a one-way process (e.g.

Outlook Express 4 cannot read Outlook Express 5 mail stores).

 

Usually, apps can import data from other apps as long as these are

older (e.g. Vista Mail may import mail stores from Outlook Express,

but you cannot go back). Sometimes they can convert data to an open

standard, at the cost of some lost "frills" (e.g. Word Perfect could

save its documents as Rich Text Format, which MS Word can read).

 

So it's a bit of a minefield, and until you tell us what apps you use,

we can't really be more specific. When choosing an app, it is this

behind-the-scenes detail that may be most important, rather than "can

I use emoticons in 'rich' messages" etc.

 

I've applied that logic to my own choice of apps, which is why I have

never used MS email apps for anything I need to see again.

 

 

>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

To one who only has a hammer,

everything looks like a nail

>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

[Guest cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Re: What software will be able to use my ME OS user files?

 

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:28:02 -0700, gfogg

>I have MS Works Word Ver 6.0. When I buy a new computer,

>what softwear should be on it to allow me to use all my old files?

 

Works is tricky; MS doesn't really want it stealing sales from MS

Office, so it tends to use incompatible data formats etc.

 

Two approaches suggest themselves:

 

1) Install MS Works 6 on your new PC

 

Need to know:

- whether it works on Vista

- whether you have the installation disks etc.

- whether these disks work, i.e. are defect-free

 

2) Convert data files to a form the new PC can use

 

Works includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, a database, and a few

other fluffy little things.

 

The word processor should be able to save as Rich Text Format, which

Vista can read and edit without extra sware added.

 

The spreadsheet may be able to save as CSV files, but that';s a

messier process, and you'd need some sort of spreadsheet (e.g. Open

Office) installed on the new PC to use the files.

 

The database and fluffies would be more of a challenge :-)

 

 

>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

To one who has never seen a hammer,

nothing looks like a nail

>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -