Copying Files From Older Versions

I have tried to bring up a file saved on a computer with a older version of Windows and it won't read. I have tried this with Word and with Quicken. Can anyone give me an idea of why it does this?

 

It shouldn't have anything to do with the Windows version but with the Program used to create the file.

If you have an old word processing file and a newer (and compatible) word processor loaded, should do fine. Same with Quicken files and the same or a newer version of Quicken.

If they won't open with the proper software, my guess would be the files are trashed somehow.

 

It is the same program; Microsoft Office 2000, and Quicken 2000. My computer supposedly came with Quicken 2002, but when I clicked on the link to "unlock" the program it took me to a link to buy it. I used the same CD to install it on my new computer as I had on my other computer. The more I try to use the Windows XP, the more frustrated I'm getting. What are the benefits of the XP supposed to be. I liked 98 better.

 

Vicki - if you bought a PC with pre-loaded apps that don't work, you probably ought to get in touch with the PC vendor.

And you are correct in that XP is a very different critter than any of the DOS based systems (95/98/ME) and there is a learning curve just like the one with the first GUI system you used. It can be frustrating for sure.

As to the advantages -
1. More stable in general. Especially when using NTFS. A mis-behaving app usually just crashes itself rather than the whole system.
2. More secure. 98 security is pretty much a joke but then it wasn't made for that. For most home users, not much of an issue.
3. Networking is lots more robust. 98 can have serious networking issues but mostly in large networks which, again, probably isn't an issue for most home users.
4. Able to handle lots more memory and hard drive. Dual CPUs with the Pro version (but not home I don't think).
5. Able to deal with large single files without hanging up. I seem to remember a size limit with 98 that was fine years ago but with the graphics stuff around these days, not so good.

I personally think that the majority of home users would be perfectly well off with 98SE as long as Microsoft continues to support it.

That being said, I am running XP-Pro at home on a 2 Pc, 1 printer network with a router/switch via DSL to the internet and love it. The OS has been rock solid for me. OTOH, I climbed the learning curve with NT3.x to NT4 to 2000 so XP wasn't a major change. 98 to XP certainly is. But worth it - eventually.

 

What is NTFS and NTF3?

Thanks for your input.

 

NTFS = NT File System which is simply the way files are stored, cataloged, and so on.

Other options available are FAT16 (old stuff) and FAT32.

Briefly, both FAT32 and NTFS make pretty efficient use of drive space. But NTFS has lots more security options built in and is designed in such a way that is it somewhat more resiliant than FATxx. Harder to hurt and better able to recover.

If you want technical details, This Article is a good one.

NTF3 - no clue.

FWIW - any of the NT systems (NT4/2K/XP) can convert FAT32 files to NTFS pretty easily usig a utility named Convert.exe. However, no good, safe method to go the other way.

XP can deal with files in any of the 3 formats. 9x/ME can only deal with FATxx and doesn't understand NTFS. But this only matters if you have a system set up to dual/multi boot into several operating systems and need to read files from any of them. No problems over a network or anything.