Microsoft Office 2002/2003

db7

This is going to sound like a stupid question and I'm sure I know the answer to it but I'm a bit confused about two versions of MS Office. I have installed a replacement HDD (old one making clicking noises) and rebuilt my machine with XP. I have installed MS Office 2002 but Outlook says my PST file isn't compatible. I put the old HDD back in and booted it up to check the version of Office and it's 2003. The thing is, I don't remember upgrading to 2003 and I'm almost positive I don't own Office 2003 on CD. So the question is... is it possible to upgrade from 2002 to 2003 online for free? If so, that must be what I did but I can't find where I would have done so.

Thanks in advance!

db

davb

db7 wrote: »

is it possible to upgrade from 2002 to 2003 online for free?

No it isn't for free.
Office 2002 is actually Office XP, but Office 2003 is a different version altogether, and does have an updated Outlook PST structure. This does tend to suggest 2003 was installed from the start on the old build, as upgrading would still keep the 2002 format PST file. (2003 can use both)

db7

davb wrote: »

No it isn't for free.
Office 2002 is actually Office XP, but Office 2003 is a different version altogether, and does have an updated Outlook PST structure. This does tend to suggest 2003 was installed from the start on the old build, as upgrading would still keep the 2002 format PST file. (2003 can use both)

Thanks davb. I'm still racking my brains as to how that happened. Looks like I might have to purchase 2003.

davb

You didn't by any chance get the PC from somewhere like PC World - there have been a few reports of people getting PC's with Office installed (paid for) from a few years ago, but when they have had recent problems, there were no disks or licence keys originally supplied.

db7

davb wrote: »

You didn't by any chance get the PC from somewhere like PC World - there have been a few reports of people getting PC's with Office installed (paid for) from a few years ago, but when they have had recent problems, there were no disks or licence keys originally supplied.

No, it's a Dell that came with XP and no Office.

joeypesci

Had any tech friends, son's, daughter's, cousin etc etc that have fixed issues over the time you've had it? They might of installed it for you with a possibly not so legit copy or maybe it is a legit copy they don't use anymore and just never mentioned it.

I think Office 2007 has become cheaper now so you might want to look at that, although the ribbon takes a while to get use to.

db7

joeypesci wrote: »

Had any tech friends, son's, daughter's, cousin etc etc that have fixed issues over the time you've had it? They might of installed it for you with a possibly not so legit copy or maybe it is a legit copy they don't use anymore and just never mentioned it.

I think Office 2007 has become cheaper now so you might want to look at that, although the ribbon takes a while to get use to.

No, no one else is allowed to touch my PC so it would have been me. Wish I had a better memory! I must have borrowed it from someone.