There are actually two varieties of compatibility for Pre-2007 Office. One, as you describe here allows the older office versions to read and write the newer XML format files (docx, xlsx, etc.) or, I believe Open Document Format files. It's a compatibility package you can download free (shock horror!) from Microsoft and is still maintained, so you get updates to Office 2000, say, which apply to this file compatibility pack.
The other compatibility, which is what earlier posters are referring to, is the setting some programs have that can be specified either during installation or later in settings for the program, if you run into difficulties. This setting allows you to specify which OS version you wish to be compatible with, Win7 in Tom's case or XP, Vista, I suppose, and some even back to Win2000. It's this setting that Tom's earlier upgrade from Win7 to Win10 used to get the two programs working after the upgrade. For a new install, on his new computer, Tom just needs to follow the same route.
My old laptop had Windows 7 and I loaded the free Windows 10 on it and everything worked fine,which means the Microsoft Publisher 2007 was working as was the MS Word 97. The old laptop, 8 years old, was giving me problems and I bought a new laptop, which came with Win10 installed. I have not been able to install MS Publisher nor the Ms Word 97 on the new Windows. There is no new standalone MS Publisher program. Is there any way that I can install these programs on Win10? Thank you for your help.
--Submitted by Tom F.
Update from Tom F. via my inbox 2/23/2018
Thanks for your help. I do a monthly newsletter for a mobile home park so I don't need all the functions of a newer version. I will try the compatibility method. Meanwhile in searching thru my discs, I found a stand alone version of MS Publisher 2003, which I used years ago. It still works and appears to have all the functions that I normally use. I have the 25 digit authorizing code to prove it's mine. At 87 years old I don't choose to purchase or learn new programs. I was designing main frame computers when we thought 8.0 mb memory was great. Each bit was an iron donut with 3 wires running thru it. So much for history.
Again, Thanks for your response. I will try the compatibility mode (just to get rid of that annoying help paper clip).
TomF

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