Old version of Office on new computer

I just received my new computer. Yeah!! I got the XPS M1530, 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 64 bit Vista & Blu-ray writeable. Also got Office, but the version is 2007. Is that the latest available? Seems odd to buy a new high end computer & get old software.

Also, they have the hard drive partitioned into C: & D: The D: drive is called RECOVERY & uses ~8GB. I couldn't find where this is described anywhere. Sounds important. Should I back it up to CD in case of system failure?

Thanks to everyone on the forum who has answered all my questions about what to buy. I've been researching this for 1.5 years & finally made the purchase.

 

Congratz~ Hope you enjoy it as much as I am

I think Office 2007 is the latest version available, but currently I still use 2003

The recovery drive isn't all that important, especially if you know how to reinstall a clean OS along with the respective drivers and Media Direct (if you plan on using it anyway). I don't even have the recovery partition anymore. All I need are my OS, MD and driver discs~

 

2007 is the newest version of Office for Windows. The next version of Office is scheduled to be released in 2010.

Note- Office 2003 was the most current version until the release of 2007, so it's not uncommon for there to be 3-4 years between versions.

 

Office 2007 is the latest version of Microsoft Office for Windows (Office 2008 is the latest for Macs, and is pretty much a port of Office 2007 to OSX). The next version of Office, which is still under development, is Microsoft Office 14.

 

I keep my MSO 2003 Professional installation disc in my fire-proof safe! I'm not fond of 2007 and plan to keep using 2003 indefinitely!

 

Well, I'm glad Dell sent me the latest Office (2007). Thanks to everyone who let me know it's the latest.

They sent me the following CD's: Drivers & Utilities, Operating System, Office & Media Direct. Does that really have EVERYTHING I need? If so, sounds like I don't need to backup the RECOVERY drive. So now I need to know how to do a clean OS install, along with the drivers. There must be a URL that tells me this. I think Media Direct comes with it's own instructions.

 

Congratulations on your new toy! lol. I prefer MSO 2003 as well. I like the feel of the older version.

 

Media Direct -> Vista -> Drivers -> Complete Media Direct
Get the latest Nvidia drivers as well.

 

Will the 2003 version run on the XPS1530 with Vista Premium 64 bit? A sales rep at Dell told me it would not.

 

Yes, it sure will! My desktop is running Vista Home Premium 64 and MSO 2003 Professional. My laptop has Vista Home Basic 32-bit, also running MSO 2003 Professional!

 

lol.. i use Office 2003 as well and i dont see the need to EVER upgrade beyond this version. I tried 2007 and wanted to barf because of the new interface.. the ribbon interface also takes up too much real estate on a widescreen monitor/laptop

 

Not sure what you're saying here. Is that on a menu bar someplace? What does it get you?

What's the ribbon interface?

 

Does the above list of CD's that were included with my comptuer really have EVERYTHING I need to restore my system if needed? Is there a URL that tells me how to do this?

 

Thanks allfiredup! That sales rep was trying to up sell me on everything. It was actually starting to get annoying.

Besides it looks like the free Works that came with the laptop will do me just fine anyway. I have one more load on my 2003 Student edition and I think I'll save it since my wife may need it in the future.

 

It's the order in which discs you use to install a clean copy of Vista with MediaDirect. They should have all the required drivers. Updated drivers may be available on the Dell Support site though. Nvidia drivers are best downloaded from Nvidia or laptopvideo2go.

 

Oh I see, thanks. I have the 1st 3 CD's (Dell Media Direct, Vista & Drivers), but I don't have a CD labeled Complete Media Direct. Should I have that?

 

They're trying to sell you 2007 because that's the only version they have to sell!

I've noticed that a lot of Dell configurations include MS Works Plus 2008- in addition to the Works Spreadsheet and Calendar, it includes MS Word 2003 (instead of the MS Works word processing program). It's actually a good choice for most home users who don't need the capabilities of Excel, Powerpoint or Outlook.

 

No, theres nothing called complete media direct.


To clean install (simple):
1) boot from windows vista dvd
2) choose clean install (NOT upgrade)
3) format the largest partition and choose that to install to
4) download updated drivers and bios from Dell site & nvidia
--------the drivers cd will work, but i always download from dell's site to make sure i have the very latest
5) pop in mediadirect cd and it will pop up with a screen to install
6) reinstall office or anything else you want and you are good to go

 

Thank you. That was very helpful. Just wanted to make sure the the CD's I've received from Dell (Vista, Drivers, Media Direct) contain EVERYTHING I need. I've been told that sometimes they leave stuff off the the CD's.