moving office 2003 to a new disc

Recently, my house burned down and took my computer with it. I still had an older laptop at r my son's house which I was able to use for a while. However, the disc is bad, and I need to replace it. I lost my software in the fire but before I replace the disc, I'd like to copy all the files to a flash drive and move them to the new disc. Is there any way to find the list of files that I need to move? I have the proper keys, and it's a legal copy and will be moved to another Windows 7 installation, same computer, same motherboard, same owner.

Is there a way to do this?

Are you still able to access the hard drive in your laptop, if so copy all the files you need to a good quality flash drive big enough for your files. Once you have done that you will need to replace the old hard drive in the laptop with a new one & then install Windows, activate it & get all the updates.

When you have done that you will need to reinstall all your software programs, you cannot copy those across as they have to be reinstalled. Unless you have an original Office 2003 installation DVD, it will almost impossible to find one now, so you may have to update to a later version of Office. Once you have all the software installed & activated, you should be able to copy the files from the flash drive.

Your Office 2003 files should still work, but they will be converted to the later file format used in Excel. Word etc..

Hello rosawoodsii mate so sorry about he loss of the house and it is such a worry when that happens as you lose irreplaceable stuff too.

Anyway to answer your query is it just that you need a copy of Windows to reinstall the system on the new drive? I am not real sure by what you say in this

I have the proper keys, and it's a legal copy and will be moved to another Windows 7 installation, same computer, same motherboard, same owner.

If that means you want to use the activation code for the burnt motherboard on the other machine you have then you only have to ask Microsoft for permission to do that and in your case I cannot see any problems - I have done that twice in the past and they have been very helpful.

Given they let you do that all you need is to get a legal Microsoft copy of the version you were using from their download ISO site. That entails making a bootable disk or stick to install Windows from.
Now if you do that then copying the files - which I am not sure of what they are - is just a matter of copy paste to the new drive.

Now I might be barking up the wrong tree so please let me know if I am.

Edit: I see Ranger has given you the low down. Now in the instance of any Office program you have they might not let you reinstall it on the new machine as I have been blocked from activating my old copies of Microsoft Office because I have reached the limit of times that it can be activated. In that case I now use LibreOffice which is to all intents and purposes the same as say Microsoft's Office 2010.

The burnt machine is not an issue. My old machine that I still have (left it at my son's house) is. I can download a Win7 ISO and I have all the keys I need for that. I was really wanting to reinstall Office 2003 on the new drive. I've tried both Open Office and Libre Office, and I just don't like them as well. I've looked around for Office Pro 2003 and you're right--almost impossible to find. I was hoping to just be able to move files.

Let me ask this another way, then. I can still access the disc. It's just very slow, literally spinning its wheels, but IF I can make an image, will that work on a different disc with a largre capacity? Would I then be able to use Office?

Or is there a way to make a backup copy from the disc of just Office 2003? I'm putting off installing the new disc until I've looked at every possibility.

Hi,
Not sure if this app still works or not for office download :/
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Not sure if this app still works or not for office download :/
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

No Thrash mate I went there and looked for the version of Office that the OP needs. I do have an old copy back home and to be blunt I find LibreOffice actually applies with any document that the original 2007 version of Office that I originally have - would perform. IE It always asks me when I change documents (for example) do I want it saved in the same format as 2007 Office.

Now if that is the case then I think it would do the same for whatever version of Office one had and as I have 2010 version on my other machines I am guessing it would do the same for it. When I get home I shall have to try that but that isn't going to happen for another three weeks minimum.

Thanks for the link to the Win7 ISO, ThrashZone. I'd have had to go searching for it otherwise. Unfortunately, Office 2003 isn't there.

Ici2lol, if you have a copy of Office 2003, please let me know when you can confirm. I realize that LibreOffice and OpenOffice will both ask for saves in Word format, and if I have to, I'll use one of them and try not to grumble. One of the things that happens with age is we like what we like even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else. That's where I am now.

Rosa, there is another possibility that you could think about. Would your laptop be able to download Macrium Reflect & install it, if so you could create an image of your hard drive. You could have a look at Macrium Reflect at this website. They do have a free version as well.

Macrium Reflect Free | Macrium Software

If you were to decide on this method, you would need an external hard drive, which would connect to your laptop via a USB cable. Then you create an image using Macrium from your laptop to the external hard drive. During the process of setting up Macrium you also set up a recovery CD or flash drive, that enables you to boot up a computer & then you can locate the external drive & transfer the image back to the computer. After creating the image on the external drive & setting up the recovery CD, you would change the hard drive in the laptop & then using the recovery CD or flash drive, boot up the new hard drive & transfer the image from the external drive.

This method would create a complete image of your current hard drive, which when transferred to the new hard drive be the same as your current drive, with all the programs & files & Office 2003 ready to be used.

Does all that sound too complicated, but I see you are an old techie. I am also an old techie.

rosawoodsii said:

Thanks for the link to the Win7 ISO, ThrashZone. I'd have had to go searching for it otherwise. Unfortunately, Office 2003 isn't there.

Ici2lol, if you have a copy of Office 2003, please let me know when you can confirm. I realize that LibreOffice and OpenOffice will both ask for saves in Word format, and if I have to, I'll use one of them and try not to grumble. One of the things that happens with age is we like what we like even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else. That's where I am now.

Ok my friend I will look (have PM'd you)

I know it is frustrating as it was for me when Microsoft stopped me from using both Office 2007 and 2010 because they put a limit of approx 3 activation's on that software and believe you me I was hopping mad when I spoke to an Indian gentleman at their call centre and he was quite abrupt and inconsiderate re my request to activate it after having to clean install my old Toshiba for the third time (and both my desktops) - denying me to do so.

Now I am not a chicken either and very old school when it comes to being helpful and that pedantic and petty minded admin really got on my nerves. Hence why I went over to LibreOffice which I find is slightly better than Open Office.

The point is that the software is out of date so to speak and no good to anyone than you or I and I can see no other reason than money as to why Microsoft make these rules - pure greed because we pay enough for the OS in any case but that is I suppose quite a different matter.

It is interesting to note that (unless I am terribly wrong) the new Office software costs so much per year now - again another example of corporate greed

Viva LibreOffice which I might also add is taking on new improvements I read just the other day.

NB I am going to jump off my rant box now LOL!!

Ranger4--Macrium Reflect! Yes, I knew there was a program out there, but couldn't remember which it was. If it will allow me to copy to a flashdrive, and if my failing disc will allow me to do the deed, an image is just what I'd need to preserve my antiquated program. I'll give that a try.

Icit2lol, it's nice to know there are a bunch of us old techies still around. I agree about Microsoft. If they were a struggling company, they'd go out of their way to be helpful; since they have pretty much cornered the market, they've lost all sense of customer service.