Computer question, help please..

[Valerie226]

We saved a file on a CD-R disk, a document made with Microsoft word. It opens fine on my computer, where we generated the file, but we can't get DH's computer to recognize it. It won't open it. His system is newer than mine. He has Word.

I thought I could copy the file from my computer to a CD-RW disk thinking his system would read that kind of disk but I can't copy to a CD-RW disk. Geez. Can someone tell me what I can do here? Thank you.

I think the easiest thing to do is to update the file on my computer and then save it to another kind of disk that both systems would read. What kind of disk?

[amarante]

Have you tried emailing it to him?

Sometimes word documents can be tricky to open. I will sometimes change the suffix to .doc and it will open.

[patt]

Valerie, I'm sure someone else has a more technologically correct answer, but for a simple solution, can you email the file to him as an attachment? He should be able to open anything in a lower version of Word than what he is running. That way at least you each have an electronic copy of the document.

It would help to know what version of Word each of you are using and what oeprating system you are each on.

Good luck,
Patt

[wallycat]

If both have Word, it should open, but crazy things happen on the computer.
Can you open it in your computer, copy and paste it into an email and email to him.
He can then copy it into notepad or word on his own, and write it onto a disk.
Openoffice is free and you may be able to download that and open it with that.

You can also attach it to a gmail and use gmail "documents" and view it, do whatever you want with it....I LOVE gmail!!

[Valerie226]

Wow, everyone else must be sitting home in the rain too...

It has .doc suffix. my system uses 2003 word and windows XP, his, windows 7 and newer Word. not sure. will try the email method.

[Valerie226]

Yes!! sent as an attachment. It worked. he's burning it to a disk as we speak. You guys are great!. He has Word 2007 BTW.

Is there a common disk that both our systems should read?

[Shugness]

Is it possible that the CD drive on your husbands computer is no longer reading ANY disc? I have a laptop that has that issue.

[SusanMac]

you haven't mentioned yet why you need to have the file on a disc. I'd go for a USB key instead, if you can be flexible.

[Valerie226]

no idea what a usb key is. :confused: I know what usb ports are but no clue about a key. sorry, not always up on technology. this is a file we access once a year and keep a couple copies of, and want to be able to access on different computers as technology changes. we don't keep the file on the hard drive.

DH's system is only a few months old, work related, I don't use it. drive works fine, just would not read the older disk or maybe because of older version of Word. not sure. mine is a good 5 yrs old.

[wallycat]

USB key is, I believe a USB stick. You can buy various amounts of memory and the things have gotten so small, you can carry it on a keychain.

If your intent is not to have any remainder of the document on your computers, I believe you need to go to the start menu and check and see what background copies exist. You may not have saved it on your harddrive but since you created the document, it is there, somewhere. I'm not well versed on how to remove things permanently, but there is software that will overwrite the bits/bites for protection.

If you have a scanner that can email, you could create a paper copy and file it somewhere, then scan it into your computer and use it when you need it, but again, any email or once it is on your computer, exists somewhere in your drive.

Openoffice is free and updates are therefore free.
Gmail has documents, excel-like spread sheets...I love Gmail office stuff and it is also free and updated...these sorts of things would work on any computer as they make sure it works.

[amarante]

Why don't you get some kind of "cloud" storage on the internet. It's widely available and for the limited amount you want to store would be free.

I don't use any kind of CD except for the very limited purpose of giving music to friends. :D

My computer is backed up to an external hard drive but I also have my important files backed up to the internet - it's then accessible from any computer provided the person has the correct password.

[wallycat]

Why don't you get some kind of "cloud" storage on the internet. It's widely available and for the limited amount you want to store would be free.

I don't use any kind of CD except for the very limited purpose of giving music to friends. :D

My computer is backed up to an external hard drive but I also have my important files backed up to the internet - it's then accessible from any computer provided the person has the correct password.

I have thought of doing that but I always worry about someone hacking into the "cloud" owner.
I suppose Gmail is sort of like the cloud system and they can get hacked into as well...no perfect system except external backup.
Of course, if anyone hacks my computer, my important stuff is cat pictures :p:)

[amarante]

I have thought of doing that but I always worry about someone hacking into the "cloud" owner.
I suppose Gmail is sort of like the cloud system and they can get hacked into as well...no perfect system except external backup.
Of course, if anyone hacks my computer, my important stuff is cat pictures :p:)

Anything is possible but there are far bigger fish to fry than my storage and there is so much personal data already stored by third parties relating to all of us that I don't worry about it.

Far more likely that I lose my iphone - or a laptop is stolen - than someone hacks into a cloud server and finds something that they can use in some way that they don't have already.

[Cafe Latte]

USB key is, I believe a USB stick.

A.K.A. flash drive. I'm sure you've seen them.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/210i4qQn2WL._AA115_.jpg

[Valerie226]

guess I have seen those. never used one though.

I delete as much as I can and do not keep the document on the drive. I'm sure if someone really wanted to, they could find account numbers etc since I do realize there is a copy lurking somewhere in there.
I too would worry about someone hacking the "cloud" whereas I'm not likely to be hunted down by hackers since we're not exactly high profile financiers.

Credit cards that get used regularly through dozens of merchants, those I worry more about.