Evolving from Office 2003

Celticbrooder · May 21, 2025

Quite happily strolling along with Word 2003... Office (32-bit) is working in Win11 pro as well as it ever has.
To the point:
Curious (but not dedicated to) evolving to a 64-bit version... (will be holding my nose)
with absolute minimum of learning curve (old dog, news tricks...)
Absolutely NO interest in cloud-based stuff (not a fan of keeping my stuff in other people's garage)
Not for growing my business or with over-caffeinated smiley-happy group sessions.
Just for a grumpy old fart that drinks, smokes and uses bad language... that writes... er... hunts-and-pecks alot.
probably not the first one,
Thanks for any useful info/recommendations
John

Berton · May 21, 2025

I have no issue using Office 2000 on a Win11 Notebook but I did a custom install leaving out the Outlook E-Mail Client and Publisher. But for working with newer files of Office 2007 and later I did install the Compatibility Pack needed for Office 2000, 2002/XP and 2003 to work with .docx, xlsx, .pptx, etc., those identified by the added x on the file extensions. [Office 2010 was the first to also have a 64-bit version.]

If needing a newer suite at no cost I use the free LibreOffice and include the Help file download.

Home | LibreOffice - Free and private office suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

Free office suite – the evolution of OpenOffice. Compatible with Microsoft .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx. Updated regularly, community powered.

www.libreoffice.org

antspants · May 21, 2025

Welcome, John.

From start to finish it doesn’t really read like you’re at all interested, so why even bother? Especially if the version of Word (Office) you use is still working for you.

XxXxX · May 21, 2025

i use Word 2003, not office 2003, just Word 2003 and it still works on Windows 11.

i have tried office 2021 home and student but really couldn't get along with the interface
so went back to Word 2003. its all i need and just works for me.

sorry not of much help
best of luck, Steve ..

idgat · May 22, 2025

Celticbrooder said:
with absolute minimum of learning curve

Not an option if looking to move on from such an old program (22 years old!!!). Owning and/or using a computer is no longer a passive endeavour, and if the need for an ongoing learning exercise is not recognised and/or acceptable, then the user will be all the worse off and poorer for the experience.

Celticbrooder said:
Absolutely NO interest in cloud-based stuff (not a fan of keeping my stuff in other people's garage)
Not for growing my business or with over-caffeinated smiley-happy group sessions.
Just for a grumpy old fart that drinks, smokes and uses bad language... that writes... er... hunts-and-pecks alot.
probably not the first one,

As suggested above, freeware such as LibreOffice. After all, it's free, you can but try it ....

Levitate11 · May 22, 2025

The versions of Office after 2003 have the horrid "new" interface designed by monkeys with serious personality disorders.

The interface is not very customizable. There are programs that will restore the old interface to the newer versions if you want the newer core .

FWIW, the latest versions of MS-Office won't do anything for the average user that you couldn't do in Office 95.

altaylor · May 22, 2025

Celticbrooder said:
Quite happily strolling along with Word 2003... Office (32-bit) is working in Win11 pro as well as it ever has.
To the point:
Curious (but not dedicated to) evolving to a 64-bit version... (will be holding my nose)
with absolute minimum of learning curve (old dog, news tricks...)
Absolutely NO interest in cloud-based stuff (not a fan of keeping my stuff in other people's garage)
Not for growing my business or with over-caffeinated smiley-happy group sessions.
Just for a grumpy old fart that drinks, smokes and uses bad language... that writes... er... hunts-and-pecks alot.
probably not the first one,
Thanks for any useful info/recommendations
John

There is a useful utility that adds the "Menus" from the old pre-2007 Office versions onto any of the versions of Office that have the Ribbon interface, including Office 365.

It is called "Classic Menu for Office", sells for $29.50, and can be found here:

Show Classic Menus and Toolbars in Office 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365

It has a 15 day free trial.

Celticbrooder · May 23, 2025

Levitate11 said:
The versions of Office after 2003 have the horrid "new" interface designed by monkeys with serious personality disorders.

The interface is not very customizable. There are programs that will restore the old interface to the newer versions if you want the newer core .

FWIW, the latest versions of MS-Office won't do anything for the average user that you couldn't do in Office 95.

Wholeheartedly agree... thought the over-caffeinated happy-smiley groupthink reference would be more diplomatic.
The thought was based on upgrading to 64-bit to improve on machine efficiency. (my efficiency is exactly at the pace is choose)
fwiw, at 700,00km, still quite comfortable with my soon-to-be-illegal '94 Mercedes diesel

Celticbrooder · May 23, 2025

altaylor said:
There is a useful utility that adds the "Menus" from the old pre-2007 Office versions onto any of the versions of Office that have the Ribbon interface, including Office 365.

It is called "Classic Menu for Office", sells for $29.50, and can be found here:

Show Classic Menus and Toolbars in Office 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365

It has a 15 day free trial.

Brilliant! (much akin to Classic Shell menu?) 30 buck to save some consternation; I'm in!
many, many, many thanks!

John

Levitate11 · May 23, 2025

Celticbrooder said:
Brilliant! (much akin to Classic Shell menu?) 30 buck to save some consternation; I'm in!
many, many, many thanks!
John

Might want to visit StackSocial. They have deals on slightly aged versions of office i.e. 2019. Then you just need the utility that @altaylor to get away from the new interface.

Bree · May 23, 2025

Celticbrooder said:
Curious (but not dedicated to) evolving to a 64-bit version... (will be holding my nose)

32 bit Office runs perfectly well in 64 bit Windows. 64 bit Office can access larger files and databases than 32 bit, but a typical domestic user is unlikely to get anywhere near the upper limits of 32 bit (I certainly don't). There are a few reasons why 32 bit may be preferred over 64 bit, scroll down to the lower half of this article....

Microsoft said:
IT professionals, and developers in particular, should also review the following situations where the 32-bit version of Microsoft 365 is still the best choice for you or your organization...

Choose between the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Office - Microsoft Support

Help to decide whether you should install the 32-bit Office version or the 64-bit Office version. Which version is right for you depends on how you plan to use Office. Find out about choosing between 32-bit Office and 64-bit Office.

support.microsoft.com

64 bit Office was first made an option with Office 2010. More info here....

https://www.officetuto.com/excel/excel-32-bit-vs-64-bit/

siliconbeaver · May 23, 2025

Second.

I have tested from Office97 to 2013 (later versions involving cloud technology, NOT my favorite) on Windows 11. they all work fine.

issues:

If you run Office macro, then there may be some issues.

security. some macro couldn't run or blocked on Windows 11 because of security issue. In my practice, have to run manually.
data type/DIM incompatibility. some macros run fine on Windows 7/10 32-bit. but on Windows 11, even with same 32-bit. I had to change data type/DIM to make them working. I was thinking, if same 32-bit, the problem shouldn't be happening. But that's NOT True.

Bree said:
32 bit Office runs perfectly well in 64 bit Windows. 64 bit Office can access larger files and databases than 32 bit, but a typical domestic user is unlikely to get anywhere near the upper limits of 32 bit (I certainly don't). There are a few reasons why 32 bit may be preferred over 64 bit, scroll down to the lower half of this article....

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