Installing Word 2007 with Word 2003 already installed

[John Butler]

Hi Word Users.

Though this may seem a feeble question I would be grateful for your advice
on the best choice for installing Word 2007 (via office pro 2007)? I am a
member of a group of consultants with small businesses and charities coming
to us for help with computer problems. I am a Windows system specialist with
a good knowledge of Word over many years.

I have a retail copy of Office Pro 2007. I have Word 2003 as part of office
Pro 2003 installed. I mainly use Word and Outlook from the existing suite.
My partners consider I should move to the office 2007 as a general
progression but they are rather negative about Vista and want to hold off
buying until the advantages and disadvantages are clearer.

Assuming I have to move to Word 2007 should I install the new software as an
upgrade or would it be better (if possible) to install it separately so that
I can keep 2003 until I am familiar with 2007?

 

[Graham Mayor]

The choice is really yours, but 2007is radically different in appearance and
will take some re-learning. If you install both, then note that you can only
have one version of Outlook and Outlook 2007 will not be backward compatible
to 2003.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[John Butler]

Graham

Thanks for your advice!

If I install 2007 over 2003 will I lose all my old data files (doc,xml.
mdb)? in which case it would perhpas be preferable to uninstall 2003 first?
John

 

[Graham Mayor]

Office installations try hard to preserve personal settings (sometimes too
hard). I would however backup essential data first
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/FilesToBackup.htm

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<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[John Butler]

Graham

Thanks again. I will image the system disk before making the installation.

John

 

[John Butler]

Graham

I have installed Office 2007 Pro on top of 2003. As you said it is not a
simple installation. There was a conflict with the new Nvidai dual graphics
display but I found the way to fix that. Eventually succeeded and all of my
old documents are present.

I can see advantages in the new format though it seems much more complex
than 2003. I am surprised that Micorsoft did not include tip sheet for those
of us upgrading from 2003. The change in the way headers and footers are
handled is substantial.

Thanks for your help, I expect I will get to like it!

John