I Went Into Pc World Yesterday.

[10ClarionSt]

Was thinking of buying a new computer. I need one anyway as mine is XP. This means all my files and documents won't work on Windows 8 or 10. I asked that if I bought a new pc, could they take Windows 10 off, and load Windows 7 on it, as my files will work with that. The tech team said they couldn't, as Windows 10 was pre-loaded. I couldn't believe that. I said anyone could purchase Windows 7 and load it themselves, but they said they wouldn't do it. I know they can do it, because a different store did it for a friend of mine. But they wouldn't budge, so I'll buy one from elsewhere because I know they can still be bought.

[AB Editor]

One thing you could do, to test, is to:

* sign up for a one drive account (it's free)
* create a onedrive folder on your pc
* move the docs you think might not work to that folder
* let the files upload
* visit the online version of word, and try opening the files

[AB Editor]

... and this should give you a more modern version of the files, while keeping the legacy versions, if you want it.

[hc4361]

Also, download the superb and free OpenOffice.

That will open your docs files

[AB Editor]

This also looks like you can run Office 2000 on windows 10 if you fancy:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/a-look-at-running-older-versions-of-microsoft/6faf72ea-254a-4c8e-9982-2c36cdb1936c

[CrapAtCryptics]

Your stutter is getting worse Noe

[AB Editor]

hc4361 - Clarion will 100% not be interested in Open Office if she's set on Word 2000 :)

[hc4361]

Fair point, Ab Editor, but I live in hope.

[AB Editor]

Sorry, I don't know why I did that?

[mikey4444]

100clarionSt....I, too, can't see why your files won't work. Not sure what files you mean but if they are document files, like Word Documents, just load them onto a external hard drive, so that you don't lose them. If they are Excel files, ditto.

Don't let PC World bully you. There are plenty of other places where you can buy your new PC, presuming you actually need one in the first place !

[hc4361]

PC World hasn't bullied him. They cannot take an OEM operating system off a PC and install Windows 7. It would invalidate the guarantee with the manufacturer and the W10 licence which has been paid for cannot be reused.

Nothing to stop a person buying a W10 machine and W7 on disks, and doing it themself. To my mind, that is a total waste of money.

[AB Editor]

Best bet would be to get settled with windows 10 before the old PC dies a death.

[Buenchico]

For your modest needs, 10ClarionSt, all you need is a refurbished Windows 7 computer for £70 or so, such as this one:
http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/cheap-windows-7-pc-dell-vostro-200-2gb-ram-160gb-hd-12-month-warranty
(There are further options here:
http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/products/computing/refurbished-computers ).

Then you simply need to download OpenOffice for free and use that instead of Microsoft Office:
https://www.openoffice.org/
(If you want to check that OpenOffice can handle your old files, simply download it to your existing computer).

(NB: The links above to A C Computer Warehouse aren't just the result of a random bit of Googling. It's the company that I buy my own computers from, including the one I'm using to type this. They're an excellent company, both for their service and the quality of their products).

[AB Editor]

(however, open office will drive you mad :) )

[Buenchico]

^^^ Nowhere near as mad, Ed, as the ruddy stupid 'ribbons' on the newer versions of Microsoft Word!

[AB Editor]

The ribbons are fine. Open Office very upsetting to use, in my experience. Like someone has build a version of your childhood home, but everything is "off"

[theshedman]

I recently bought a new laptop running windows 10 from PC World and the staff in there told me I would need to purchase the new version of office as my old version, 2003 wouldn't work with it. I got it home and after loading everything put on office 2003 and it works fine. Not sure if this works with an even older version though.