Microsoft Word

[JBR]

Apologies for posting this here, but there is no specific section for computer advice.

Yesterday, suddenly without warning, when opening one of my saved MS Word files, I was presented with a completely new and apparently far less usable file.  I have been using MS Word 2007 and it appears that this has now been overwritten with a far less suitable new MS Word software.

I have fiddled about as much as I can, and can now once again open my files in Word 2007.  The problem is that it takes about a minute for it to load up, so at least I still have the software on my computer.

I should like to remove completely the new Word software, if that is possible, but retain the Word 2007 installation as I'm pretty sure that if I do such a thing I might end up removing all of the Word software.

I'd be very grateful for any technological advice, please.

[klondike]

My advice for what it's worth.

I assume that you have installation media for the old version of word.

Make a backup of your C: drive using something like Macrium Reflect free. Make sure you have a way to restore it - with MR that means producing a boot USB drive and knowing how to get your PC to boot from that usb drive.

Uninstall the new version of word that you say is being used. Each of the programs that make up MS Office are standalone programs but there is a chance that some portions of the code will be shared which could cause problems should you install the old Word.

Install old Word. Make sure all the MS office programs work. Figure out what caused the problem in the first place.

If things screw up restore the backup you took.

TBH I wouldn't go through that myself though. I'd install Libre Office which is free and see if it opens your word file ok using Libre Office Writer. If it does save it back using the ODT format then Word won't open it and screw it up again.

[JBR]

My advice for what it's worth.

I assume that you have installation media for the old version of word.

Make a backup of your C: drive using something like Macrium Reflect free. Make sure you have a way to restore it - with MR that means producing a boot USB drive and knowing how to get your PC to boot from that usb drive.

Uninstall the new version of word that you say is being used. Each of the programs that make up MS Office are standalone programs but there is a chance that some portions of the code will be shared which could cause problems should you install the old Word.

Install old Word. Make sure all the MS office programs work. Figure out what caused the problem in the first place.

If things screw up restore the backup you took.

TBH I wouldn't go through that myself though. I'd install Libre Office which is free and see if it opens your word file ok using Libre Office Writer. If it does save it back using the ODT format then Word won't open it and screw it up again.

Apologies.  I have been occupied with this problem all day yesterday.

Actually, the new Word software was never installed on my computer, but I was misled by the appearance of the new Word symbol representing all the word document shortcuts on my desktop.
Nevertheless, the outcome is that I can still open all my Word documents but it takes up to a minute to do this.  I don't really understand why, though once open the files seem to be just as before.

After a day's solid investigating, I decided that Word (the 2007 version) can remain and if I want to use any of my files I shall just have to wait, or open them in LibreOffice, which I have just updated.  One minor thing I have yet to discover is how to add vertical borders between columns!

I shall certainly not buy the new Microsoft Office suite - not at £86 a year!  LibreOffice is free, though I did make a voluntary donation in thanks.

I still haven't got to the bottom of why these changes appeared on my computer three days ago.  I had thought it was MS attempting to foist their new Office on me, but it must have been something else.