Microsoft Word 2000

Hi,

Having a few problems with word 2000....just shuts down automatically while working on a document...and all work is lost......also stalls while working on documents.....so I have to go to task manager and kill the application.

All updates are done...

Any ideas,

 

This "automatic" shutdown feature have been around for a long time in most Microsoft products.

The only advise I can give is to lower the intervals for autosaving so it saves like every 2nd minute.

Instability in programs like word can be related to overclocking memory or CPU.

 

Do yourself a favor.

Get the Open Office.org office suite from OpenOffice.org and get rid of that Micro$oft Crapware. You'll be glad you did. Not only is it free, but it doesn't have that &%@&^*!@#^ paper clip. It's also pretty stable, though naturally, the Windows version is not as stable as the Linux version.

 

MS Office alternative

I just downloaded and installed the 602 PC Suite and it seems to work great.: www.software602.com They have a FREE version and a Pro versions for $. It is is suite of progs that is compatible with MS Word & Excel documents. It includes a spreadsheet prog, word processor, photo editor and photo album. Word was crashing on me a lot. I have WinXP home on an AMD 2.1Mhz with a GB of ram. XP has been giving me a lot of probs. Much of that I can write off to probs with Roxio products (EZ CD platinum 5 and GoBack3) that weren't compatible even with the "cerified" upgrades installed. My system would just reboot for no reason - even if I was only using Explorer to copy files. Hope this helps others with the same prob.

 

Re: Do yourself a favor.

I don't think Office is a bunch of Microsoft crapware. Word 2000 is very powerful by itself. First reason is visual basic in macros. Macro viruses are so common in word documents because with visualbasic, a macro can do anything on your computer. It can open other programs or change settings as just some small examples of non-malicious uses.

I also like being able to create indexes and a table of contents automatically without entering anything manually in Word 2000. What about creating a chart that is referenced to some cells in an excel spreadsheet, so it will update automatically as new data is entered into the spreadsheet.

It sounds like you hold some grudges against microsoft. Just like some people hold grudges towards companies like AMD, Intel, ATI or Nvidia. (see article "which card is better?" and "which CPU") Personally, I appreciate all three of these companies.

Before you go bashing a product based on which company hired the programmers, take some time to actually use the program. I also hate the office assistant. But I also appreciate all MIcrosoft has done for the computer industry.

If you think Microsoft makes crapware, go try to update your I-mac. First, you have to look at a table of when it was purchased, the hard drive size and what color it was just to figure out the model. The you have to go through each update manually to see if it applies to you. That is very annoying made me realize how much Microsoft has done for computer users.

In conclusion, don't be frenchman and hate Microsoft because it's the biggest player, but instead realize how Microsoft really has facilitated the computer industry with Windows in the last fifteen years* and really isn't a power-hungry, monopolist bent on world domination.


*(windows 1.x was released in 87)

 

Re: MS Office alternative

I tried 602 and it seemed to work real nice, but as I recall, there were a couple of things that came only with the $ version, that my few clients would insist on having. When the computer that I was using to test various programs crashed and had to be fdisked and reinstalled, (a fairly common occurence with Win98) I was unable to reinstall 602 with the password originally provided. So be forewarned, at least with the version I tested, if you need to reinstall it for any reason, you will probably have to download it again and get a new password. There are several other good free Windows Office Suites and Word Processors, but having tested most of them, I found OpenOffice.org to be the best working, and most hassle-free of them all.

 

I don't intend to start a war....

I don't want to start a war, but I will address a few points.

"Word 2000 is very powerful by itself. First reason is visual basic in macros. Macro viruses are so common in word documents because with visualbasic, a macro can do anything on your computer. It can open other programs or change settings as just some small examples of non-malicious uses."

My wife works in an office that uses M$ computers. Twice in the last year she has brough home "macro" viruses from work. The really funny thing is that there are no macros used in her office, just ordinary Word and Excel documents. The viruses are spread by people receiving .doc files from their friends via email. They get the bug at home, then take floppies home to work on documents and carry the virus back to work with them. You're right about one thing, though, M$ Word is very powerful. In fact I'd say it's the third most powerful virus vector in the world, right behind Outlook and Internet Explorer.

"I also like being able to create indexes and a table of contents automatically without entering anything manually in Word 2000. What about creating a chart that is referenced to some cells in an excel spreadsheet, so it will update automatically as new data is entered into the spreadsheet."

While I have not had the need to use any of those functions, OpenOffice.org can do them, as well.

"But I also appreciate all MIcrosoft has done for the computer industry."

LOL! What Micro$oft has done TO the computer industry is criminal. As a matter of fact they were convicted of some of their criminal activities just last year.

"If you think Microsoft makes crapware, go try to update your I-mac."

I don't own an iMac, though I would like to.

"That is very annoying made me realize how much Microsoft has done for computer users."

LOL, wait till you get a good taste of what Micro$oft has in store for their computer users.

"I realize how Microsoft really has facilitated the computer industry with Windows in the last fifteen years* and really isn't a power-hungry, monopolist bent on world domination."

First, Micro$oft has almost surely held back computer development by at least 5 years, and there is no argument about whether they are a "power-hungry, monopolist". They were convicted, but unfortunately not punished.

 

Re: I don't intend to start a war....

What does Microsoft have in store for computer user? I like the facts and am willing to change my opinion with some info.

How has Microsoft held back the computer industry?

 

hmmm i wanted to check out that autosave option and all i could find was "auto recovery" which let me change the time interval.... is this basically the same thing? saves your document for you?

 

"What does Microsoft have in store for computer user?

Digital Rights Management. Read up on Palladium. Microsoft has already made it difficult (and, according to them, illegal) to install their software on a different computer, and future versions will be even more tightly bound to the computer on which they were originally installed. They already have the ability to disable software on your machine which they find offensive.

"How has Microsoft held back the computer industry?"

By stifling innovation and kiling off the competition. By changing standards and keeping the changes proprietary. (see JAVA) By leveraging their monopoly to force inferior software on users. By selling insecure software that has cost business billions of dollars in lost productivity through the disruptions of viruses, endless reboots, and BSODs. I recall a statement made by Dvorak in one of his columns when the 386 was new. He spoke of the blinding speed, as compared to his old 286, but noted that when he installed Windows 3.0 on it, he once again had the speed of his old 286. Today's 1 Ghz machines with Win XP are subjectively no faster than that 386-25 with Win 3.0. Now, I've heard that XP is stable and BSODs are a thing of the past, and if true, I'm happy to hear that it took the world's largest (and only convicted monopolist) software company only 20 years to develop a stable OS. The Linux kernel, created by a college student, and developed by unpaid volunteers, has been stable since the beginning, 12 years ago.

BTW, did I forget to mention that M$ has also been convicted of software piracy?

http://www.vnunet.com/News/1131606

 

It has always been illegal to install software on more than one computer. Microsoft is trying to elimiante casual copying. So someone doesn't buy Windows XP then gives it to his friend. As an article from vnunet.com states: The BSA says software piracy cost more than $11bn in 2000. http://www.vnunet.com/Analysis/1131342

Wher did you hear this?

The only reason windows and microsoft products are always being sought by virus creaters and the such is because almost every computer user uses windows. Office is the most used application I see, and so many people use outlook as well.

You got me on those points

 

"It has always been illegal to install software on more than one computer. Microsoft is trying to elimiante casual copying. So someone doesn't buy Windows XP then gives it to his friend. "

No, it hasn't always been illegal to install software on more than one computer. Many software producers allow users to install their programs on a computer at work and one at home, or even more. The key is that it is OK as long as both computers aren't being used at the same time. In fact that's exactly what the license agreement I'm looking at right now, for Lotus 123, says. But that's not what I said anyway, so it is irrelevant. Microsoft wants to make it impossible for you to take the software that came with your computer and install it on a different computer even if the old computer goes up in smoke. They have even taken the extreme position that it is illegal to donate a computer to someone without including the original M$ software.

"As an article from vnunet.com states: The BSA says software piracy cost more than $11bn in 2000."

The BSA (excuse me) are full of crap. They have pulled a number out of their collective ar$e$. The vast majority of pirated software would not be bought if it couldn't be pirated.

"Wher did you hear this?"

It's in their new EULAs. Oh, you don't read those, just click through them? Here is one place to read about it.

http://www.ibo-business.com/security_nomore_eula.htm

"The only reason windows and microsoft products are always being sought by virus creaters and the such is because almost every computer user uses windows. Office is the most used application I see, and so many people use outlook as well."

No, the reason M$ products are attacked by virus creators is because of the ease of attacking a Win box. Any 12 year old with an internet connection can acquire the knowledge and tools to attack Win users in a few days. *nix boxes are much more difficult to crack and email viruses simply don't work on Unix/Linux. I get them all the time, look at them, laugh and delete them. No harm done.

Anyway, this is probably not the place to hold this exchange, but thanks for listening to me rant.

 

Hank, I think he was referring to only MS software. I recall, you can use Office on 2 pc's so long as you aren't using both at the same time. But the OS is a different story. They want only one pc to have one licensed copy of their OS on it. It's always been that way. With XP, if you install it on a New machine seeing as your old machine goes belly up; it takes 2 minutes to reactivate the OS. Painless. It only happens for big changes in the system. If you replace a video card it won't ask you reactivate. But if you replace the mobo, it will. If you replace all of the peripherals it will.. it's basically a point system. One periph alone will not cause it, but more than one may. As for the link you posted, it's pure paranoia. That paragraph is simply a disclaimer stating that with in:
"the autoupdate feature (if you use it) you allow MS to download the updates to your PC. However, you don't have to use it and you can turn it off". There is never a time when files are UPLOADED to MS from your pc. That is pure BS. So, what's the big deal? If they allow you to disable it, then there isn't a problem.
As for viruses.. yes, it's easy to write them for win32. The problem here is not one or the other.. it's a 2 fold situation (a combination of) ... The fact that windows is the primary OS on a vast majority of the workplace PC's COMBINED with the fact that windows allows complete manipulation with its' subsytem (which is handy at times and unfortunately exploited) leads to a cocktail for deviance. The psychology of people can be another factor and if included can be another reason why people do the things they do. However, this inclusion is independant on what software is uses. If you look at that, then you must consider that peoples natural destructive nature is to break down what ever is number one so that they may attain that position. It's nature and any psychologist on the planet will tell you this. it's also common sense. With that in mind, this makes windows an even more desirable target. So now that's a 3 tier problem we have. This tertiary problem can lead to hatred and a bandwaggoning of people on that hatred because they are followers.. hence the script kiddies and linux uber-zealots who think their software is superior to the other.. Which isn't the case. Each has their strengths and EACH has their weakness.
Please also take note that linux is traveling down the road that Microsoft Maketh. The once broad spectrum of builds is now at a critical mass and there is a push for consolidation. I read it every day. This is somewhat good news for the linux community. It will be easier to maintain the software but the drawback is that there will eventually be only a few different MAJOR (i.e. PRIMARY not underground) builds. These will be targeted for destruction by the undergrounds. You watch .. mark my words. "Those that are on top will fall from a desire un paralleled to any other - Human nature will prevail" .
There is always someone out there who will want to beat the giant because he/she cannot be the giant.

 

Ditto!