XP and Vista

[Noreen]

My great-niece is about to get a laptop for school work. The school uses XP however her parents want to get her a Vista laptop. Assuming that the same programs are installed at the school and on the laptop, is there likely to be any problems in swapping work between them?

[Inactive]

You have just opened a can of worms Noreen.. 

[Rik]

It depends, Noreen. For example, if the school is using Office 2003, file transfer from Office 2007 requires the installation of a file conversion pack by the school.

[Steve]

Rik too quick! However if you change the save in Office 2007 to compatibility mode 97-2003 I have had no issues

[Glenn]

Rik too quick! However if you change the save in Office 2007 to compatibility mode 97-2003 I have had no issues

I was just about to post the same

[net91]

I used Windows Vista and Office 2007 at home while my school was running Windows XP and Office 2003. I had no problem ferrying work back and forth with a memory key as long as I chose the compatibly mode as Steve says, there an option to save like this right next to the normal save option when you click the office button.

There is some information on the new file formats of Office 2007 and compatibly on this page;
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/office2007_02.asp


Moving work between a Mac and Windows XP is a different story however.

[Rik]

It always is.

[Ted]

Some variants of Toshiba laptops that come with Vista Buisness also come with a free "downgrade" to XP. So if all else fails.............

[Steve]

Some variants of Toshiba laptops that come with Vista Buisness also come with a free "downgrade" to XP. So if all else fails.............

I like the words "downgrade to XP" 

[Ted]

I think Microsoft views it as "down" where as anyone who does it, clearly sees it as "up"

[Sebby]

As already mentioned, the one thing that springs to mind is Office 2007, but just because her laptop will have Vista doesn't mean she'll have this suite or this version anyway. If she does have Office 2007, you can save as an Office 97-2003 document anyway (see attachment). Otherwise, there shouldn't really be any problems.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Sebby]

One more thing on the same subject (may be useful to others as well)... It's possible to change the default file type in Word's settings, which eliminates the possibility of forgetting to save as 97-2003.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[drummer]

I installed the Microsoft Office Compatability Pack which now allows me to open Office 2007 files in Office 2003.

Not tried it on Open Office yet, but I'll give it a bash tomorrow.

[Sebby]

That's a good solution, but my thought is that she might not be able to install anything on the school computers.

[net91]

...my thought is that she might not be able to install anything on the school computers.

I certainly found that to be the case (although our network admin was working on installing the compatability pack). I believe a lot of schools in the UK run RM software which limits access the user has to setting, install applications etc.

[Sebby]

Ah yes, RM...

[Rik]

Royal Mail is doing software now? 

[Sebby]

I sincerely hope not!

[Rik]

Would you like that data entry to go first or second class, Sir, and would you like it signed for on receipt?

[Sebby]

No I won't bother thanks, there's no point me paying more when you'll only lose it anyway.

[Rik]

Ah, you've used our services before then? 

[Sebby]

[Noreen]

I gather from your replies that she shouldn't expect any major problems then. They are a fairly computer-literate family and she has just got an A in IT in the latest exam results so hopefully they'll manage.

[Sebby]

Excellent.

[Noreen]

The question only arose because they haven't used Vista before.