Windows 7 Vs. Office 2000 Vs. Office 2003

A bit of background for my issue/question:

In order to sync my Windows Mobile phone to my computer I have to have Microsoft Outlook installed. However, my version is Office 2000. I cannot use Virtual XP on this particular computer (it's just a netbook) to use Office 2000 that way, but I did try that on my other computer, which runs Virtual XP beautifully. Unfortunately, it would not allow the syncing of the phone via the Virtual Machine. The more research I do on this issue, it seems Office 2000 is not really compatible with Win7, thus why I tried the Virtual XP thing in the first place.

So, my actual question is:

Does anyone have experience with Office 2003 and Win7? Are there issues running that? I'm sure Office 2007 is recommended, but I'm just looking for any insight anyone might have to offer from your own personal experience with running Office 2003 and Windows 7.

Just some additional information I thought I would put out there and if any one has any insight/solutions into these, that is welcome as well!

Windows 7 does install and run Office 2000, there are just some annoying quirks:

1. I had to copy over wab32.dll and wab32res.dll from C:\Program Files\Common Files\System into C:\Windows\System32 to get the address book to work in order to send messages or really do anything useful in Outlook.

2. I cannot select Microsoft Outlook as the default mail program. It doesn't even come up in the default programs list. That is why I cannot sync my phone up, because it has to be the default mail program.

Other than that everything about Office 2000 runs just fine with Windows 7.

Thanks in advance for any and all input!

Look here:

- Google Search

I know Office XP is mostly compatible with Win 7, but I think the Outlook component is not.

Office 2003 seems to run OK ..
But .. If a file on the desktop is Edited > Saved ... It moves ...
And you have to chase it down and drag it back where you want it.

2007 does not have this annoyance.