How to open Docx Files on Office 2003

Since 2003 went out of support some years ago and is not fully compatible with win10 the avarage user would be unwise to install 2003

You would be better off installing one of the free 'Office type' apps, eg https://www.libreoffice.org/

Which can both read & write MS Office docs

Yes, there are ways to run unsupported software, but they are typically too involved for the "average" user.

Rather than let them continue running such an old version, especially if it is connected to the internet, it would be better to introduce them to current versions of Office or some of the lower cost (including free) Alternatives to Office.

I do understand the resistance to change that someone who is still running 2003 probably has. Some of the Office alternatives still use the menu system, so your user might be more comfortable with them than a "ribbonized" application.

This wiki lists some of the options

I Need Office, What Should I Get: Pros vs Cons – WIKI – buy Office - “Free” Office

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/wiki/msoffice_install-mso_other/i-need-office-what-should-i-get-pros-vs-cons/2e75ea21-f8d0-4cde-9764-13b02cde46a7?tm=1478718433145

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Unfortunately, "buying" Office has become a big decision tree.

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You can take the easy way out and rent Office 365 forever (whether you really NEED the "extra" features you are paying for) or you can take some time to investigate all of the options to find the best deal for you.

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If you meet the right conditions, you really can get Office for FREE or much cheaper than everyone else who is paying the full retail price.

Check out the wiki I go into more detail outlining these options:

• "Free" MS Office
• Office "came with" the new computer "for free"
• MS discount for new computer buyers - (comes and goes)
• Stand alone Office Programs
• One-time payment Office 2019 Home and Student / 2019 Home and Business / 2019 Professional
• Office 365 Home / Personal / University (is no longer offered)
• Office 365 Education
• Get a share from someone who has an Office 365 Home subscription ("free")
• Office 365 Education / Office 2016 for Students and Faculty
• Recent Graduate Discount
• Business Office 365, several possible bundles
• HUP discount - Home Use Program
• "Office in The Windows Store" aka "Office Hub"
• MS Office Online
• Office Pro Plus through Volume License
• Non Profit license
• WordPad
• Work 9.0
• Free/low cost Office Alternatives
• Buy a used copy of Office 2010 or 2013 "FPP" / Retail type licenses

You will have to decide for yourself. You can to trade off long term cost and features If your needs are very simple, you won’t need to spend much or work with one of the free options. But if you are a more “advanced” user, using multiple Office applications and sharing documents/files with others you will have to pay for one of the Office 365/2016 bundles.

Thankyou.  This has worked brilliantly.

Lynsey

There are a number of third party converters such as those at:

https://www.zamzar.com/convert/docx-to-Word/

https://www.nchsoftware.com/documentconvert/index.html?msclkid=5fc3e162fbe91e2cc41abce23c8e2b6b