Windows 10: How to keep manual formatting in Word docs from randomly changing?

How to keep manual formatting in Word docs from randomly changing?

:)

 

Need Utility to read/convert older Word docs

The Word .doc extension encompasses four distinct file formats:

1. Word for MS-DOS
2. Word for Windows 1 and 2
3. Word 6 and Word 95 for Windows
4. Word 97 and later for Windows

I have Word 95 installed on an old computer with Windows XP. (I have Word 97 installed on another old computer with Windows XP.) Word 95 can write the following formats:

• Word 2.x for Windows
• Word 95 for Windows
• Word 3.x - 5.x for MS-DOS
• Word 6.0 for MS-DOS

Word 95 can read the following formats:

• Word 6.0/95 for Windows
• Word 97 for Windows
• Word 3.x - 5.x for MS-DOS
• Word 6.0 for MS-DOS

I created some test files with Word 95 for each of these four type. In Word 2019 I unchecked the options in Trust Center that blocked Word 2, 6.0, and Word 95. With Word 2019 I COULD read and write the following:

• Word 2.x for Windows
• Word 95 for Windows

With Word 2019 I COULD NOT read or write the following:

• Word 3.x - 5.x for MS-DOS
• Word 6.0 for MS-DOS

This test showed that Word versions released since Word 95 for Windows can't read or write Word for DOS formatted .doc files. Note Word 97 couldn't read these Word for DOS .doc files but Word 95 could. The last version of Word for DOS was in 1993. It is very possible that the .doc files the OP has were created by some version of Word for DOS. @x509 if you want to attach one of the unreadable .doc files to a post I can try to read it with Word 95. That will at least verify whether it is a Word for DOS file or not.

 

Word docs

many thanks for responding and trying to help me. the problem is that all of the docs in various folders that were word docs are no longer word docs - they only open on wordpad (and so parts of the docs cannot be seen). does anyone know why that would
happen?

I actually don't know if I have a current subscription to office.

thanks again for any help anyone can give

 

Word docs

Hi,

If you right click on one of the doc files & choose open with is Word listed?

Do you have a current subscription to Office?