Question on new windows 8 computer

As some of you know my mom and dad got a new laptop the other day to upgrade from windows xp. I saved the files on their old computer to a jump drive and when I tried to put them on the new computer it try's to open the files using Microsoft office. The windows 8 doesn't have that and I was wondering if we do the upgrade to 8.1 if it's going to be on there. If not, how am I going to put his files on his new computer?

 

If you're asking if Office is part of Windows, the answer is no. If you have the Office disk from the old computer you can load it onto the new PC - otherwise you'll have to buy a new copy of Office.

 

You can also try OpenOffice or LibreOffice (both free). They'll open your files, but they won't be perfect replacements for MS Office.

 

what version of MS office was on the old computer?... I think that only the more recent editions of MS office will install on win8/8.1... (my guess is 2007 and beyond?)...

so,

1) hopefully you have the install media (a DVD?) for your MS Office, and you can try to install it on the new PC..

2) otherwise, you'll probably need to purchase a new version of MS Office (I think Home and Student is $140) and install that...

3) or see if some of the freeware mentioned by others will work w/ your files, ...but could be dicey..

 

Yeah they never bought office for their old computer. I believe all there files were on word and a couple on excel. They had that computer built for pretty cheap but they never bought the software. Just like on my wife and I's laptop. We have word I think on vista but never bought any software it's just what came on it preinstalled already

 

ok, ...then you'll have to do either (see my previous post) option 2 or 3... it's cheaper to get Office 2013 Home & Student than to get just Word and Excel a-la-cart... I think you can purchase Office 2013 Home & Student, and download it to your hard drive, and then install it (hopefully you have an administrator-level account on your new PC?)...

 

oh, ...and more for your "to-do" list... (the following are included in win8/8.1)

1) make sure "windows firewall" is turned on...

2) make sure "windows update" is set to notify you of updates, AND go ahead and make it "update" to download and install all the security updates and fixes that have come out since your new PC's OS was installed.. yes, it will be out of date

3) make sure that "windows defender" is updated (make it download and install virus definitions), and make sure "active protection" is turned "on"... this to, will be out of date

hint: if you aren't familiar enough w/ the new OS yet, you can bring up the "charms" (the icons that pop-out from the right side of screen), and click on the "search" charm, type in the name of the thing you want to find, example: "windows defender"..

 

Yeah next time I'm over at their house I'm going to go ahead and update them to the 8.1. Also thinking about seeing how to set it up to where it automatically starts and goes to the app screen or desktop without having to sign in. Maybe its a good thing that he has to sign in before actually using the computer.

 

Is there another program that is preinstalled on windows 8. My mom just called me and asked or she said they were going to take the computer back b/c they can't get the files from the other computer (I haven't dl'ed one of the programs above to try yet, I haven't been to their house). He is either wanting to get his resume from the jump drive or I'm wondering if there is another program preinstalled on 8 for them to make another resume. Kinda in a bind and don't know what to tell them

 

you're going to have to give us more details... what kind of program?... what file format?...

as for simply transferring files from a thumb drive to the new PC, ...just open up explorer (shortcut: <windows key> + e), ...that should be the "familiar" windows explorer interface, and (I hope) they can navigate the directory trees, locate the thumb drive files, etc...

 

Like they had office with word on old computer and new windows doesn't have it and couldn't open it. So I downloaded the open office a little whole ago and it works. So they are gonna use that for now