Software Help Needed Please & Thank you!

I am finally joining the 21st century and setting up a new computer real soon here... Windows 10. But I don't have any questions about that (at least not yet).

But I also need to update my Microsoft Office software. I'm still running '03! But here's the thing: The new computer is 64-bit, and I need to run the 32-bit version of Office, and I need to be able to work off-line with the programs. So I think I've figured out that I don't want Office 365 -- because that operates in the cloud so you can only use it while working online. I need the full version Office Suite. (But someone please correct me if I'm wrong!!!)

According to the Microsoft website, I can run the 32-bit version on the 64-bit machine. What I cannot find is if both the 32-bit and the 64-bit are in the same version or if I have to find and purchase one or the other? And if it is the same version, will I be prompted during setup to choose 32-bit or 64-bit? Or will it automatically detect my system and install the 64-bit version? Or is there an advanced/custom option I could choose?

I'm kind of racing time here trying to get the computer set up and the Office software downloaded by 9:00 tomorrow morning. My usual 'puter gurus aren't getting back to me and I'm not finding the answers I need... so any helpful advice or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance!!!

a reply to: Boadicea

I think this is why I'm in this position today... and it's good news for lots of old fogeys like me!

In a Tight Labor Market, Retirees Fill Gaps Their Previous Employers Can’t

Apparently, as the tax cuts work their magic and the economy continues to improve, companies are expanding and need knowledgeable and experienced workers again. Not just to pick up the slack, but lead the way forward, mentoring new workers and sharing their experience and wisdom. That's pretty much what happened for me. An old supervisor contacted me and said they had a new account and needed folks to service the account, and they are counting on their "veterans" to help them expand.

If you're retired and looking for something to do, maybe you can market your old skills again. Or if you've been holding onto a crappy job because it's security, now may be a good time to look for something better.

This might be helpful for those so inclined:

How to leverage the power of retirees as mentors and coaches

a reply to: Boadicea

Maybe I'm missing something but if you got a new 64 bit computer then why bother updating the old? Additionally, and not sure about this, but knowing Microsoft, I think the old version of Office will only work on the machine it's on, so you'll probably have to buy new version, or if you have a Microsoft account, the download should be there somewhere

a reply to: Boadicea

www.howtogeek.com...

Office 2003 went out of support in 2014 and is not certified as supported under win 10 and you'd need at least office 2010 to be guaranteed support as while your install may work its in the lap of the gods, theres plenty of free office suites around and i'm not saying any is better than another for your needs but a bit of a search will soon reveal a few good ones.

DONT go downloading cracked versions of MS Office as they'll be full of nasties and if you had the skills to do it properly you wouldn't be asking for help and while its easy to do I'm not getting a whacking from the banhammer.

a reply to: Boadicea

Just download Apache Open Office. I have used it for years now and it can still open and create Office format documents.

Is Open Office a viable alternative to MS Office

A 64 bit computer will run 32 bit office. I recommend 32 bit for most people, other than power users (accountants using HUGE spreadsheets in Excel, folks like that).

I highly recommend upgrading from Office '03, it's going to give you trouble: i.e. if you ever send documents to someone else who has a newer version, they may not be able to open the document, or the format could be really messed up as well.

It's a common misconception that you can't use Office 365 offline, you definitely can, you just need to connect to the internet once every 30 days to maintain your 365 subscription. Plus, 365 comes with a terabyte of cloud storage, so you can free up some space on your hard drive.

Having said that, 365 is a subscription service, not a 1 time purchase. So you pay $99.99 per year, or $9.99 per month. That comes with routine updates, higher security in the software, etc. However, if you'd rather just have a one-off purchase, I'd recommend Office 2016 for Home use, not business. A one time cost, but doesn't come with big updates (once there's a new version, like Office 2019 or whatever, you can't upgrade to it like you could with 365).

Alternatively, you can download and use Libreoffice (Linux's version of Office) for free, and it will give you almost the exact same experience as Microsoft Office products.

originally posted by: Zcustosmorum
a reply to: Boadicea

Maybe I'm missing something...

I'm sure it's me not explaining myself very well... not you!

...but if you got a new 64 bit computer then why bother updating the old? Additionally, and not sure about this, but knowing Microsoft, I think the old version of Office will only work on the machine it's on, so you'll probably have to buy new version, or if you have a Microsoft account, the download should be there somewhere

I think I should have said "upgrade" instead of "update" maybe? I have Office '03, which is now obsolete, so I need to update/upgrade my Office software to install on the new computer. The '03 still works just fine on the old Vista computer, but it won't on the new computer.

a reply to: narrator

Every company I have worked for the last 20 years or so have had some form of MS Office installed. They have all been fine to use without too many problems - MS Office is installed and you don't think about it any more, you just use it.

HOWEVER, the company I work for now recently migrated to Office 365 and for the first time in my life I absolutely LOATHE and DESPISE a software program. So many issues ... it's a constant battle to keep it working and it seems so unstable.

a reply to: deltaalphanovember

I agree. I've used MS Office in a professional setting for a long time, and I prefer the "normal" Office 2016, etc. over Office 365. My company is using 365, it's great for collaboration (not to mention the cloud storage), but is definitely buggier than Office 2016, which I never had issue with before we switched over.

Having said that, I've never used it in a personal (rather than professional) setting, and friends that do/have say it's friendlier in a personal setting. But, I can't give a personal opinion about that since I've never used it outside of work.

A few years ago (a couple promotions got me away from it) I was a tech, and I'd much rather install 2016 and be done with it. I was just giving her all the options.

a reply to: narrator

Options are good ... free options are better

That being said, if one is a Power Office user, then bite the bullet and purchase the darned Microsoft licence ...

Before installing office of any kind its probably best to make sure windows is fully patched before messing around as who knows what all these windows updates may mess around with.

Its the old problem with computers that by the time you decide you need help the timer to the bomb is in single digits shall we say and if you can't see the machine its very hard to give advice on as we have no idea of its config or what its expected to do.

From a quick google an office 2016 key wouldn't be much more than 30 bucks but how legit they are and will last the test of time is debatable.

originally posted by: neo96
a reply to: Boadicea

www.howtogeek.com...

Thank you! I'll check it out as soon as I finish replying

Maybe it will tell me how I can install my old Lotus Smart Suite... I still miss that program!

I run 03 on a Windows 10 computer just fine. No problems. Lack of "support" is a no-brainer. You don't need those guys. It's probably not an ideal situation as you will find the newer docx format can be a problem, but overall it will work just fine. Using 365 you would be beholden to Microsoft on a yearly basis forever. I have used Word since version 1.0 for DOS when it came on two disks and included a mouse. I have tried Open Office and similar clones, but there's always something that doesn't work right. It may be okay for basic documents, but try writing a book-length doc and you'll find that tables, for example, do not render properly or something else won't work right. It's not worth it to me to use one of those and wait for the time bomb to explode when I least expect it.

a reply to: deltaalphanovember
a reply to: Maxatoria

Thank you both! Unfortunately, I don't have a choice in the software. The company I'm contracting with specific Microsoft Office. I will be logging into their computers to work, so I'm figuring we need it to be compatible with their software... or something. But it's what they want so it's what I'm going to get!

I recently had to write a reference for an acquaintance but didn't want to purchase office software, so I searched for 'best free office software', and happened upon a programme called 'WPS Office'.

Here's a brief overview written by TechRadar;

WPS Office Free is a slimmed down version of a premium office suite, but you'd hardly know it. Each of its three programs looks just as slick as the latest versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and is packed with just as many features.

Advertisement File format support is excellent, and you can save your work in native Microsoft formats for easy sharing with Office users. There's no database software, but WPS Office comes with an excellent free PDF reader that's a great replacement for Windows' built-in app.

There's the occasional ad, but these are few and far between. They certainly won't get in the way of your work, and you'll easily forget that everything in this suite is completely free. [...]

WPS Office Overview

Here's a more thorough review (same source)



Not being too familiar with office software, I found it easy to use and intuitive.

I hope this can be of some help,

a reply to: Boadicea

Ah - then it seems as you don't have a choice. If you are logging into their systems, it then makes sense to upgrade to whatever version they are using?

originally posted by: narrator
A 64 bit computer will run 32 bit office. I recommend 32 bit for most people, other than power users (accountants using HUGE spreadsheets in Excel, folks like that).

I highly recommend upgrading from Office '03, it's going to give you trouble: i.e. if you ever send documents to someone else who has a newer version, they may not be able to open the document, or the format could be really messed up as well.

That's what my brother told me as well. He said I would probably be forever plagued with little glitches here and there.

It's a common misconception that you can't use Office 365 offline, you definitely can, you just need to connect to the internet once every 30 days to maintain your 365 subscription. Plus, 365 comes with a terabyte of cloud storage, so you can free up some space on your hard drive.

I think the thing about that is two-fold; 1) I will be logging in to their systems via a VPN to actually perform the work, so I need the software already installed on my system; and 2) I believe because the lion's share is legally confidential information so extra precautions have to be taken.

Having said that, 365 is a subscription service, not a 1 time purchase. So you pay $99.99 per year, or $9.99 per month. That comes with routine updates, higher security in the software, etc. However, if you'd rather just have a one-off purchase...

I do prefer the one-time purchase!

...I'd recommend Office 2016 for Home use, not business. A one time cost, but doesn't come with big updates (once there's a new version, like Office 2019 or whatever, you can't upgrade to it like you could with 365).

I don't mind purchasing it. It's not even very expensive -- especially when it's really an investment, more than an expense. I need it to make more money, right?

Thank you!

originally posted by: deltaalphanovember
a reply to: narrator

Options are good ... free options are better

That being said, if one is a Power Office user, then bite the bullet and purchase the darned Microsoft licence ...

Exactly. I'm looking at the Home & Student version, but I will be using it for work. The downloads aren't very expensive, especially considering that it's an investment in future income -- at least that's how I'm looking at it -- so I don't mind purchasing the license.