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

[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?

 

[Heather]

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?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

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
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?

 

[Alias]

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

 

[Dapper Dan]

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?

 

[Alias]

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?
>
>

 

[N. Miller]

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.

 

[gfogg]

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.
>

 

[Alias]

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.
>>

 

[Mike M]

> 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.

 

[Heather]

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.
>>

 

[gfogg]

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
> 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?
>
>
>

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

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

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

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