Installing older version of WORD

[Khandro]

I moved from XP to XP professional when I bought my new pc, but find the newer version of WORD too complicated with all its bells and whistles as I only use it for basic things. Is it possible to install the older version, as well as, or maybe instead of ?

[ChuckFickens]

Yes, uninstall the current version and then install the older version from the original CD.

Pretty sure it won't let you install the older version while the new version is installed.

[linbig]

As ChuckFickens said you can do this if you have the installation disc (remove current version first). If you do not, however, you could download "Open Office" or "LibreOffice" from the web, both of which are comparable to Word. If you only want a word processor you could try Abiword. Good luck

[NazNomad]

Not really answering the question, but can you not just 'turn off' the features you find annoying?

i.e. View > Toolbars ... and uncheck the ones you never/rarely use.

[Khandro]

Hmmm! Thanks guys, but on further examination it appears that WORD is one part of a bigger package called 'Microsoft Works Suite', perhaps trying to extract and remove that one piece might open a can of worms ? Maybe I'd better try to come to terms with the complexities of the installed version ?

[boxtops]

I didn't know you could get Microsoft Works any longer... I had it two computers ago (I quite liked it). My problem at the moment with Word 2007 is that most people I have to send documents to, don't have that version, so I have to convert to Word 1997-2003 before they can open them.

[VHG]

Yes Microsoft Works still exists, they are up to release 9, and you can still buy it. But Microsoft are not developing it any more and there will be no new releases.

Microsoft Works Suite was slightly different in that other products (like Word and Encarta etc) were packaged with Works.

Can you install Works Suite and JUST choose the Word component (I have never installed Works Suite so not sure if you can do this).

[galeck1947]

I install Works Suite 8.5 on my learners computers it is a very simple suite and you can access each part individually as you wish.