Windows XP Home Edition

I bought the computr from a lady who had many back up disks from Dell because something went wrong with the computer. I called Dell and they helped me fix a few things on the computer. I have a reinstallation disk for Windows XP that Dell gave her. I put the disk in and it states a newer version of windows XP is already running and I would have to uninstall that one first and reinstall this one. My computer has word pad and Quattro. I have never heard of them and would like to work with Microsoft Word and Excel. I am not a computer genius. I just want some help or direction on how I go about getting Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Thanks!!!!

If the Office suite did not come with the computer, then you have to buy it separately.

Mark

Let me understand this I need to purchase the office version and that will include word, excel and powerpoint? I have home version which does not give you those applications...is that what you are saying? I have a reinstallation disk but it is for the home version. Can you suggest where to buy and what to buy? Thanks!

What you have is an Operating System, (OS), called Windows XP Home. There is another OS in the same family called Windows XP Professional. It has slightly more features.

Microsoft Office is a 'suite' of applications, which can include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft FrontPage, and Microsoft Outlook. There are various versions of Microsoft Office, the latest being Microsoft Office 2007. I personally have Microsoft Office XP, (2002), but I don't have all the separate applications. I don't have Microsoft Access, PowerPoint, or FrontPage. That was my choice when I purchased Office with my computer.

I cant tell you what, if any, Microsoft Office applications are available on the XP CD you have. If the computer is a DELL, then it will have a Service Tag code somewhere on the case, or in the documentation that came with the computer, and if you visit the Dell.com web site and input that Service Tag code, you may be able to see the specifications of that computer, and that may show you what applications the computer was originally installed with. But, generally, Microsoft Office applications were included on a separate disk to the CD that included XP. My DELL computer is like that.

If you are satisfied that neither the computer as it stands now, nor the CD's that you have, include Microsoft Office, then you will have to purchase the Office suite of applications yourself. Any good PC store where you live will have the Office bundle, but as Office comes in many flavors you will need to look carefully that the one you decide to buy has all the separate Office applications you require.

There will be many web sites where you can also purchase Microsoft Office. Amazon will be a very good resource. But again, check carefully what is included in the Office suite before you hand over any money.

Good luck, and I hope that helps.

Mark

Thank You....Thank You....Thank You!!

Open Office is a MS Office compatible project originated by Sun Microsystems

you can get Open Office for free by download at www.openoffice.org

from their web site -- Key Benefits
Available in more than 90 languages.
Works with many different operating systems.
Provides word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, and more.
Stores all your data in a ISO-standard format (ODF).
Can read and write Microsoft Office files.
Can be used free of charge by anyone for any purpose!

Star Office (the same application as Open Office) is available from Sun but it costs some (although less than MS office from Microsoft) -- the good news is Sun provides support