Windows questions

[trains are bad]

I just picked up an OLD PC for free and want to put it in my room and intall Word on it to do my homework, and also maybe get online up there. Anway it has windows 95. My microsoft works 2002 says I need 98 or higher. So can I use the windows XP disk that came with our Dell and install XP? How hard is that to do?

This machine is like 255mhz I think an 1.2gig HDD.

[mcveighr]

Nope. Not Xp anyway.

Install an old WordPerfect or something.

[MarkM]

Good luck, the odds of windows XP actually liking the bios in your new/old machine will be pretty slim and the same will be true of whatever components you have installed such as graphics cards etc, as whilst XP has a lot built in too older stuff will have to be downloaded plus the OS will take up a huge chunk of that 1.2 gig drive so you won't have a lot of space left to do very much.

[trains are bad]

It has to be Microsoft word so it's compatible with the Pcs at school. Is there any way to get a copy of word that would run on it?

[mcveighr]

Word Perfect is compatible with word, and IMO a better program.

If you're not comfortable with that, get an old copy of word.

You could download it, or ask around, I've got MS Office 95 I think.

[Tron]

Well unless your school has the same copy you are going to use Word95 they wont be compatible anyway. Install win98 and then download openoffice.org

And Mark he is around 300MB short of being able to install XP.

[MarkM]

Originally posted by Tron
And Mark he is around 300MB short of being able to install XP.

Ok I knew he was close, but then I haven't had a drive that small since I ran Win95.

[mcveighr]

Just stick with 95 if you're only using it for word processing. Word 95 should also work fine at school if thats what you have now. Or even wordpad/notepad.

[Tron]

Originally posted by mcveighr
Just stick with 95 if you're only using it for word processing. Word 95 should also work fine at school if thats what you have now. Or even wordpad/notepad.

But he would be stuck with regular old text. He wouldn't be able to go back and forth which it sounds like he is trying to do.

[mcveighr]

Regular old Text?

[Tron]

none of the fancy formmating he is probably using word for.

[mcveighr]

Oh ok, I just do the basics.

[Bluestrike_2]

Look for an ANTI-MICRO$OFT website. Many list programs that are compatable w/ Word and are usually freeware. It won't be too hard to find a few. Everyone knows Micro$oft is evil....

Just because Microsoft makes Word does not make it the best.

A simple outline is easy in wordpad or notepad. Just not as fancy as Word.

Worst case scenario:

You NEED a certain version of word. Which I doubt. You need a cheap, new computer. You build your own for $500 + screen. Or get a Mac

I dont think you would need that though. Just do what I told you.

Curious. If you already own a Dell, why do you need this computer? Why not just use the Dell?

[Dryden]

Just grab an old Win3.1/95 copy of WordPerfect 6. It's free now. Check here for an archive of old shareware and legally available full software for old OSes (scroll down the page to the 'Editors' section):

http://www.oldstuff.myagora.net/Lightspeed/main.html

If you're doing this on the cheap, you could also buy an old copy of Office 4.3 off of eBay, and use the blank Setup.ini from Lightspeed's site to workaround the floppy registration encryption that Microsoft used ten years ago.

Office 4.3 was the last version produced until the release of Office 95.

If you're only trying to view Word docs, not edit them, check Microsoft's site for the free Word Viewer.

If the second PC is powerful enough, I'd give OpenOffice.org v1.1 a shot too.

[WickeDKlowN]

There's no way you would b able to run XP on a 255MHz computer.

Just leave 95 on it and gra a copy of OpenOffice