Trial of Microsoft Office 2003 expired... now wont let me open my files!?

Question

I bought a new computer about 4 months ago. It came with a trial of Microsoft 2003. Now it is saying that my free trial has expired and that I must purchase the full product. I'm not happy about this, but at the moment, it wont let me open ANY of my files (instead pops up saying "need to upgrade from trial") and I'm at a loss. I need my files! I've come to the point where I will pay whatever they are asking (it doesnt say how much), but when I click "continue with purchase" it just opens to a blank white screen. HELP! Anyone know what is going on or have any solutions? I'm basically at a stand still! Would openoffice.org be able to let me into my Word files at this point, or is there no way to get around Microsoft holding them hostage?! (it will let me open select files, but I cant edit or change anything in them...)

Answer 1

Well, there are two options...

1. Download OpenOffice.org! It is a free office suite similar to microsoft office, but open source and free. You can open Word files with Writer. Go to this link and download: openoffice.org. (don't worry, this is a clean program, so spyware or anything)

2. If you use gmail, you can email it to yourself, and it will have a link, "open with google docs." You can access your files from there. It is like an online MS Word

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Hi there

Note: 2007 Microsoft Office Beta 2 expires on: February 1, 2007 and 2007 Microsoft Office Beta 2 Technical Refresh expires on: March 31, 2007

I'm assuming you got the Beta version of Microsoft Office 2003. You should have downloaded the Techinical Refresh before your original beta expired on Feb 1.

As to the solution of your problem, there's two possible reasons. Word 2007 documents aren't compatible with the previous versions of Word, or once your beta expired, you won't be able to open your 2007 documents with your older Word versions. I don't know if OpenOffice would be able to open the newer version of 2003 Word documents.

Here's to options you can choose (the first is the best):

If you would like to use Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003 to open and modify Microsoft Office Word, Excel®, and PowerPoint® files that have been saved using the 2007 Office release file formats (particular in this situation, Beta), please download the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...

This will allow you to view your word 2007 files on word 2003.

OR...

You can download the free 60-day trial of the new 2007 Office (NOT Beta release, it's the trial release (post beta)) release, and use that to open your word 2007 docs.

http://us7.trymicrosoftoffice.com/produc...

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

You can download a program for free that works like Microsoft Word and will open and edit Word files. It is AbiWord and can be downloaded at http://www.abiword.com. It is not "shareware" that comes with viruses or bugs. I have it and have never had any problems. There are probably similar free programs that do what Excel, etc. do, but I don't know.

Answer 4

You can certainly try openoffice. I have that program on my computer and use it to open Microsoft documents. I use it for home stuff but for school i double check my stuff. The thing I double check for is the formating to make sure it comes out the way I intended.

Answer 5

This happened to me, and all it would let me buy is the Teacher Student Edition, but I din't qualify so I couldn't. I was pissed. I found AbiWord. Use that. It allows you to open Microsoft Word, RTF, and TXT files, and AbiWord files. You can also save as .doc, .rtf, .txt, or Abi's. They ahve many similar things as Microsoft Word except one thing.... ITS FREE!

Answer 6

Download and install the OpenOffice suite. It's free and is compatible with MS Office and other office suites. You can get it at http://www.openoffice.org.

Answer 7

ii Got One for Free U want it?
but its in ruSSian lol

Answer 8

How else do you expect them to get you to buy their product.

Answer 9

e-mail Mircrosoft about the problem

Answer 10

nope there is no way around it
Bill gates wants your money!!!!!!!!