How can I open ms word files without paying for the massive price of ms office?

Question

I'm a college student and will need to be able to open microsoft word documents and powerpoints in the format that they were originally ment to be viewed. I have tried wordpad and it works for some files while others have random computer code in them. I am also running Windows Vista. Please help!

Answer 1

You can use Word and Powerpoint Viewers. They are free. You can't use them to edit, but you can use them to open and view.

Powerpoint Viewer for 2007
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA-1

Word Viewer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF&displaylang=en

Excel Viewer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c8378bf4-996c-4569-b547-75edbd03aaf0&displaylang=EN

Answer 2

There is a great thing in this world called "open source." It's a concept where the code a particular program is written in is open to the public essentially and anyone with skills to improve it or expand it is allowed to make their changes. Collectively the world has created hundreds if not thousands of these programs that range from Virus Protection to Video Games. In between is exactly what you are looking for, an Office Suite without the Microsoft price tag. Currently I use http://www.OpenOffice.org and it reads MS word files perfectly, as well as saving in a format that MS Word users can read.

Answer 3

In addition to the suggestions of OpenOffice and the MS viewers, you can also look into MS Office itself. Many colleges have software licensing agreements with Microsoft (and Adobe) to provide software to their students at a nominal cost. The university where I work offers MS Office for around $25 to students, faculty and staff. Try asking someone at the college computer lab, bookstore or IT department if you can get a student discount on MS Office.

Answer 4

You can download viewers from Microsoft that will allow you to view and print Word documents and PowerPoint files, although you can't edit them or create new ones.

PowerPoint Viewer:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA-19D2A8FD7485&displaylang=en

Word Viewer:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF&displaylang=en

Be sure you download and install the Office 2007 compatibility pack if you want to be able to open documents created in Word 2007 - the link is on the same page as the Word viewer.

Answer 5

Open office is supposed to be fully compatible with word. I think open office allows one to save files in word format. Give it a try. if it works, it works. If it doesn't you have only lost the time it took to download and install OP.

Answer 6

You can download and use the free Microsoft Word Viewer and Powerpoint Viewer, both of which are available from Microsoft. However, you can only view the documents; you can not edit them.

1. Word (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF&displaylang=en)

2. Powerpoint (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=428D5727-43AB-4F24-90B7-A94784AF71A4&displaylang=en)

If you want to edit them, you can use the free OpenOffice; however, though you can open .doc and .ppt files, you can not save them in those formats. (http://www.filehippo.com/download_openoffice/)

Answer 7

0. You can download the free MS Word Reader from:
www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=95E24C87-8732-48D5-8689-AB826E7B8FDF

1. You can use Google Docs. This way you can read/edit/create/print Doc and Excel online, in your browser. You can also save the document in various formats.
docs.google.com

2. You can use OpenOffice.org. It's free.
http://www.openoffice.org.

Answer 8

Rt click the file then point to Open With then click on Wordpad

Answer 9

download openoffice.org
openoffice.org is a free word, excell, and powerpoint program. that not only allows you to view ms documents but edit them as well!

or if you want office 2007 for free goto isohunt.com and download a "office 2007 /w crack" torrent. NOTE: torrents are illegal

Answer 10

There are open source alternatives like Open Office. Also Apple has software that is compatible with Office.