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Question on how to transfer Word documents on a USB to new computer without Word but has Windows 10?

) May 27th, 2022
11 responses
“Great Question” (2

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I have 50 thousand word writing project copied on USB from old computer years ago and cannot open it on the new computer as I do not have Word on it (yet), but I have Windows 10 operating system.

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Answers

I am not a computer geek, but I know that Google Docs can read MS Word files. Google Docs is free.

Hawaii_Jake (37346

)“Great Answer” (5

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Open Office will open the files too, I think.

Caravanfan (13526

)“Great Answer” (4

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Agree with both above but formatting and spacing may change i.e. you have three columns in Word, it may not come out the same way.

Also you need a special cable for connection two computers without using a network router. Flat wont work just using a regular USB cable.

Tropical_Willie (31125

)“Great Answer” (1

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If you are talking USB flash drive, disregard the cable comment.

Tropical_Willie (31125

)“Great Answer” (1

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Download a free productivity suite like Open Office or Kingsoft. I use Kingsoft and its word processor (called Writer) is just like Word and reads Word docs.

SnipSnip (6775

)“Great Answer” (3

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Thanks for your replies but I need to clarify as USB download onto the new computer can only” read”, so that I cannot copy paste it onto my “Open Office 4.1.6 Free program”.

I need to copy in order to save in RTF ( Rich Text Format ) required to paste onto a self Publishing website Book.

I was wondering if I had to sign up for MicroSoft of which I ran into problems ( stating It is old Micro software /possibly illegal? Son purchased in 2007 for an old computer).

I then tried to purchase MicroSoft 365 program ( APP) ..but again ran into more problems as a chatline representative told me that I had to have Microsoft downloaded first.

Got that and it stated to create a password first of which I did then it asked for my Gmail password of which I had not been using for quite some time as I just tap onto my google acct on my computer without signing everytime.

I put the password in the one that I wrote down years ago in my address book…turned out to be the wrong one and it shut me out!

Google sent me a text asking IF it was me, I texted YES then had to wait at LEAST 6 hours to try it again.

Three times I did that, each time I had to wait and once overnight I waited and finally got a message to create a NEW password and FINALLY got back in without losing any previous information on my account.

At this point I’m scared to sign up for Microsoft, in case I have a similar run around!

Inspired_2write (14486

)“Great Answer” (0

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“Thanks for your replies but I need to clarify as USB download onto the new computer can only” read”, so that I cannot copy paste it onto my “Open Office 4.1.6 Free program”.”
– Why would you only be able to “read”? If you’re getting a message to that effect, what exactly is it saying, because the way you wrote it makes no sense to me.

“I need to copy in order to save in RTF ( Rich Text Format ) required to paste onto a self Publishing website Book.”
– All of the 3rd party programs suggested to you above should be able to save as RTF, though it will tend to loase more formatting details when you do that.

“I was wondering if I had to sign up for MicroSoft of which I ran into problems ( stating It is old Micro software /possibly illegal? Son purchased in 2007 for an old computer).”
– You only need to do that with “Office 365” versions of Office. Older versions of Office don’t require signing in or subscribing to Microsoft Office 365.

“I then tried to purchase MicroSoft 365 program ( APP) ..but again ran into more problems as a chatline representative told me that I had to have Microsoft downloaded first.”
– The wording of that makes no sense. Microsoft is a corporation, not something you can download. You would need to download an installer program if you want to use the MS 365 version (the one that wants a subscription).

You might be able to start a free trial subscription to MS 365, use it for this file, and then cancel it before you end up paying MS for it.

However, IF the software you want to use is going to want you to import in RTF format, then I would just use Open Office, Libre Office, or Google Docs (because they are free and do not require any login nonsense) to load and save the file as RTF.

Zaku (30354

)“Great Answer” (1

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@Zaku

Yes, I went to the Library and was able to use LibreOffice to download the file and save it as well on my USB after editing and also saving copy files in the Rich Text mode too.
Thanks for your suggestion.
It worked!
Also the Librarian mentioned something about the USB copy when she downloaded it.
It showed a yellow band ( about it not being Microsoft etc) where she told me to click onto that and it went away and then work on it ( edit) and save etc
Success! Whoo hoo thanks, saved a lot of headaches from happening

Inspired_2write (14486

)“Great Answer” (2

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Thanks to everyone who responded in assisting me to get this important work done.

Inspired_2write (14486

)“Great Answer” (1

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I’m glad you got it to work! Librarians can be very helpful for many things!

Zaku (30354

)“Great Answer” (3

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You don’t copy/paste. You “Save As.”