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Please be kind....I am in my 70's! I have a computer which has Word 2003 (I think!). My cousin sent me a document to read on WhatsApp, and when I tried to read it I was told "This document was made using a newer version of Word, and do I want to download a compatibility pack. But then I was told that "This download is no longer available". It would appear my program is too old.
So, I tried to download a newer version, and I could not. Does this mean I have to buy a newer program and install it, or what do you suggest please? Thanks, Colleen
A family of Microsoft word processing software products for creating web, email, and print documents.
Answer accepted by question author
Hi baird, welcome in community
Follow carefully this thead of moderator Charles
I think you find the link you need there
Let me know
Elvis
The Compatibility Pack recently stopped working for me, so I redownloaded it from the link Charles gave. When I tried to install it, I was told it was already installed. But I am still unable to open .docx files in Word 2003, and I was able to until just recently (including files attached to Outlook messages). Something has changed.
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Hi Suzanne, try this one https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wks803t5cjuolek2k6c7c/AFIglTKettqeGLc6z6Z9NeI?rlkey=k2hm6e328gwc212170unwmiwx&st=271mkm6n&dl=0 It is the one I used and kept a copy.
Hi Suzanne, I spoke too soon. Just tried opening a docx file and got an error. Tried repairing word and also get an error. Microsoft appears to have added something! I am using Windows 10.
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I have done a search an A1 does find registry fix. I am leaving it for now. The error "Error 1919: Error configuring ODBC data source: Visual FoxPro Database" usually occurs during Microsoft Office 2003 installations or repairs. It happens because required data access drivers and registry keys are missing from your system. (You can use this search term to bring up suggested fixes: 'error microsoft visual foxpro office 2003'
Quickest workaround: Have your cousin open the document in Word and use Save As to save as a .doc (Word 97-2003) format document and resend it to you.
Starting with Word 2007 Microsoft introduced a new (and better) file format. .docx
They for some time issued the Compatibility Pack to allow Office 2003 programs to open these files but at some point stopped supplying that. You can, as Alvise suggests, download it from me. Suzanne advises that it has stopped working. You can purchase Office 2024 or Microsoft 365. You could also download and install OfficeLibre or OpenOffice, which are free, and which will read and edit the newer file formats.
If you decide you need a newer version, you can buy Office 2024 with Outlook or without Outlook. These versions have no subscription fees.