New computer, help please with word/excel!

Trixie

Moderator
So, my computer totally crashed the other night. Took it to geeksquad cause no help here at home, and just got new computer and had them transfer files. Well, not everything transfers over, and I cannot remember so much stuff that I had, like word and excel. I have a code here but it's an old one and I can't get it to work.

This is pretty important -- is there a way to get Word/excel free? Or what do I need to do?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I have to reset everything now back to how I like it, don't know where my favorites went, even had to do a search to find this site, lol.

Overall though, I have to say I'm really happy with them, so far at least, since I still have all my e-mail on aol and have it saved, they went and found it all (I knew it was an easy file, but hard to find cause it's so easy, took them an extra day, but at least I have all my information -- I save all kinds of important info on there that I need to access for taxes, etc. - stop laughing I've used it since 1/2000. :p )

Any help appreciated. Not even sure whether I'm stuck with Norton anymore, and if not, forgot what to use (Avast?)....

TIA!
 

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
You can download open office for free, not the same at MS Office but it will get you by. You can get MS office viewer for free but can't edit. Just ask that kid that lives with you for help.
 

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
What Steve said.

There are at least two, very good, free office suites out there. They aren't 100% compatible with the Microsoft stuff, but it's what I've been using myself at home, and suggesting for family, for years.

These days, I lean toward "Libre Office," which split off from the Open Office that Steve mentions. It's the more "modern" of the two.

Free download, here --> https://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/

Here's the Open Office link. The last time I looked at this one, it was a bit more "dated," but maybe that's more comfortable. You really can't go wrong with either..
https://www.openoffice.org/download/

Both are free, neither will have spyware / adware.

Alternatively, if you're set on getting proper "Microsoft Office," You have the cloud solution that Driller mentions. Additionally, if Mike's employer participates in Microsoft's "Volume License" program, which many large organizations, and most educational institutions will, You'll be able to purchase a full version of office for about $10 that's valid for as long as the organization renews their license. (or "you" work there..)
 

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
As for your other thoughts.. It's easy to forget about backing up the favorites, but it's more likely these days that they got them. If you have your old "my documents" folder, they'll hopefully be within that, in a folder called "favorites." (This is all assuming you were using Internet Explorer. If you were on Chrome or FireFox, this changes the game significantly.)

Copy that folder to the following location on your new PC.
C: --> users --> Trixie --> Favorites.


For the AntiVirus, most people will do just fine with the stuff that's built into Windows. I'd uninstall the Norton stuff that comes with it, as it's a bloated pile of garbage, and almost a virus in and of itself. If you don't remove /all/ of the components, it'll simply reinstall itself. I don't trust it at all.

That, and don't click on naughty things on-line. You'll be fine.. :)
 

Trixie

Moderator
OK, I was desperate and had $25 off, so I did go buy 2016 - one time deal works better for me and I don't trust cloud, plus I was having issues cause I didn't remember my old usename/password, set up yet another e-mail (I have no idea how many I have out there hahaha) but their online tech was so unhelpful. But thanks, I can refer to this in the future.

No, don't use IE, I use chrome.

And the kid was being much less than helpful when this whole thing happened, so I wasn't about to bug him more, although he did help me a bit last night.

I do like Windows 10 better than 8.1. Still getting used to it, though. And my keyboard is trashed, but I'm so so used to the Logitech G15, and they don't make them anymore hahahaha. So I'm up and running again, sorta. And I don't usually have problems with viruses, now that Hubby has his own laptop. Which he password protected! I may do the same on this one hee hee.
 

KStromberg

Vortech kicked in yo
For the AntiVirus, most people will do just fine with the stuff that's built into Windows. I'd uninstall the Norton stuff that comes with it, as it's a bloated pile of garbage, and almost a virus in and of itself. If you don't remove /all/ of the components, it'll simply reinstall itself. I don't trust it at all.
+1 on that. I have a good friend that I have known for 20 years that now lives down south and works as a technical support specialist in the IT industry and he pretty much mirrored your statement Mike. He told me to avoid Norton like hot lava. I use my computer for browsing and email mainly and he suggested AVG to me. I've had zero issues and I have the free edition.
 

LeoC2

New member
After reading this thread... man am I happy I have a Mac that backs up automatically all changed files every hour. When upgrading computers I just run the migration software and all is back up as it was before. Same for my IOS devices.
 

driller

El Presidente
My last PC upgrade via windows was rather uneventful, given the better than average migration routine. I still hate the entire 'license' routine I have to go through for some of the software at work. That and several legacy programs now have to run in virtual mode. Long story short, upgrading to a new PC is a general PITA.

After reading this thread... man am I happy I have a Mac that backs up automatically all changed files every hour. When upgrading computers I just run the migration software and all is back up as it was before. Same for my IOS devices.
I use a MacBook Air at home and have had 'Time Machine' for quite some time now with the Airport Time Capsule. Pretty slick I must say.

So if I get a new Mac, does the migration software simply utilize the Time Machine to upgrade?
 

chris2523

New member
For the AntiVirus, most people will do just fine with the stuff that's built into Windows. I'd uninstall the Norton stuff that comes with it, as it's a bloated pile of garbage, and almost a virus in and of itself. If you don't remove /all/ of the components, it'll simply reinstall itself. I don't trust it at all.

That, and don't click on naughty things on-line. You'll be fine.. :)
yup. Windows Defender or whatever they call it isn't terrible. i haven't had any issues. but not clicking the popups is still your best defense.

I do like Windows 10 better than 8.1. Still getting used to it, though. And my keyboard is trashed, but I'm so so used to the Logitech G15, and they don't make them anymore hahahaha.
i skipped 8 entirely. that whole thing was a fiasco. but windows 10 has been doing very well for me.
i have occasional instability, but thats probably more related to my overclocked processor...

and that G15 is a great keyboard. my dad still uses his.
i have a Logitech G710+ now and its everything i could ask for.
 

Trixie

Moderator
Well, I don't tend to pick up viruses very often and when I do I spot them quickly. My issues stem from the tower being in a place that's rather dusty and full of pet hair, so it eventually just gives out and then I'm desperate to get a new computer and fast, lol. In fact, when I got the last one, they just phased out 7, and my only choice was 8, and I was not happy, so all is well, it's just a matter of setting it up to how I like it.

My last computer had become so unstable it froze when I downloaded 10 to it, so I guess this is a blessing? and Chris, let me know what keyboard is most similar to the G15 :). My 6 key is hard to use and my shift on the right sticks. I don't especially use the G keys, but since I don't look at the keys when I'm typing, I hate switching keyboards as they all have a certain "feel" to them.
 

Mike P

c:enter
Staff member
Wish is saw this earlier, I liked 8, now have 10 and like it too. It's am open sourced operating system, there's always going to be security issues but they get fixed relatively quickly. As for antivirus,i use and pay for eset nod, it's highly rated, no annoying pop-up messages, it works in the background seamlessly and I highly recommend it. When I do PC repairs and upgrades I always turn people on to it. Windows has good native software but it's not enough.

I use the Microsoft suite and yes I paid for it, but it comes with cloud storage which is great when I'm doing school work on my iPad and can pull it up on my computer easily. Word and excel are free apps in iOS. Anyway, Sharon I have an old registered copy of office I could have given you but new is better. Sorry about that.
 

Trixie

Moderator
No worries Supermike, I was so anxious to get this going, and my searches weren't turning up anything, so I just got it, and now I have it for the life of this puter :)

I'll have to check out that antivirus. I've never paid for any, I used to disable Norton and McAffee, or whatever came with the computer and run others, but for some reason during 8.1, I had issues with antivirus softwares blocking other things, I forget what it was ... but actually I had relatively little trouble with viruses. I think the OS was my issue, I never did "get" 8, and 10 is much more intuitive for me.
 
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