Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 98591 2009-03-30 09:27:00 Publisher pottsy99 (14776) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
760764 2009-03-30 09:27:00 Anyone able to help -- I had an older computer running Windows ME , and had a lot of files done in Publisher 97 on it . It's died and i was lucky enough to shift everything data wise to a new bigger , better , faster machine with XP , and also still had the Publisher 97 disc so I loaded that on too , but most Publisher files won't open , just getting a message saying similar to " Does not recognise this version of Windows " .

I thought they were supposed to be backwards compatible ? Will putting the latest version of Publisher ( think it's 07 ) solve this ? As the old one is 97 , according to the box I can't even get 07 at the 'update' pricing , so don't want to spend $600 or more to find the old files still won't open .

Sorry about a lot of questions in the one question .
pottsy99 (14776)
760765 2009-03-30 09:32:00 Just to be clear, Pub97 installed fine with no errors?
You get the windows ver error as it tries to open the data files?

Can you create a new file, save and retrieve it?
linw (53)
760766 2009-03-30 23:58:00 I had a similar problem with an old Spare Parts program. It would not read the data base. Adjusting the 'compatibility' did not help as the program was running Ok.

I installed ME in a VMware virtual machine and it works fine.
mzee (3324)
760767 2009-03-31 07:28:00 Hi , for several years I had a computer running my A3 printer that had Windows ME and Publisher 97 on it , and I built up a lot of files .

Six months ago I updated to a way faster new computer with Xp , and I loaded Publisher 97 on ( yes I still had the Cd after all these years ! ) and transfered over all my Publisher files , but now a lot won't open , saying 'Publisher can't open files created on unknown version of Windows ' .

Anyone know what to do ? I thought both Publisher and Windows were supposed to be backwards compliant ? I don't want to upgrade to the latest Publisher ( 07 ? ) -- apparently because my version of Publisher is that old , I have to pay full retail for new version ( not avail at upgrade pricing ! ) and even then no-one seems able to tell me if this would ensure I can open these old files .

Any advice greatly appreciated thanks
pottsy99 (14776)
760768 2009-03-31 07:30:00 You posted the same ? here (pressf1.co.nz) Speedy Gonzales (78)
760769 2009-03-31 07:48:00 Reply to linw -- yep Publisher installed fine , as did my printer driver . I can create a whole new document and it will print perfectly , but almost all the old ones ( off the ME computer ) which I had transfered over won't open ( although frustratingly about 5% do ! ) .

There are over 1000 A3 documents from the old computer , a lot have scanned images or pictures loaded direct off cameras , and would be almost impossible to recreate , and even the ones that don't would be a pain to try and recreate
pottsy99 (14776)
760770 2009-03-31 09:33:00 As I said, use a Virtual Machine, either VMWare or Microsoft. mzee (3324)
760771 2009-03-31 21:21:00 Or VirtualBox. Best;) Blam (54)
760772 2009-03-31 21:24:00 Sorry to be ignorant -- what is VMWare or VirtualBox ? pottsy99 (14776)
760773 2009-03-31 21:30:00 Pottsy99

You could send me a Publisher file which will not open on your system via Email and I could try it with Publisher 2007.

toyrav4 at gmail dot com
Sweep (90)
1 2