Computer guru's - help

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

So, I have Windows 8.1 and have an external hard drive from my last HP laptop that died.

Well, I have some .wps files on the external drive that I cannot open at all! I have looked around on the net however I just cannot find anything that I can use to open these files. I have some old phone numbers and others documents that I would like to read.

Anyone have any ideas on how I can open these things! Frustrated!

Future · Apr 7, 2015

Microsoft Word and Publisher should be able to open them, otherwise, I'd worry that they are corrupted.

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

Future said:
Microsoft Word and Publisher should be able to open them, otherwise, I'd worry that they are corrupted.

My windows 8.1 does not have Microsoft Word. Do I have to buy it? If so, where?

WoodysGirl · Apr 7, 2015

5Stars said:
My windows 8.1 does not have Microsoft Word. Do I have to buy it? If so, where?

Microsoft Word is part of Microsoft Office and yes, you have to purchase that separately. If you use it to open the file, you might want to copy and past it as separate .RTF (rich text format) file first.

The actual application that opens .wps is Microsoft Works. That should be a free app on most every new computer.

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

WoodysGirl said:
Microsoft Word is part of Microsoft Office and yes, you have to purchase that separately. If you use it to open the file, you might want to copy and past it as separate .RTF (rich text format) file first.

The actual application that opens .wps is Microsoft Works. That should be a free app on most every new computer.

Well, this new Toshiba does not have Microsoft works. I have looked for a free version but I may have missed it. Do you know where I might find a free one?

WoodysGirl · Apr 7, 2015

5Stars said:
Well, this new Toshiba does not have Microsoft works. I have looked for a free version but I may have missed it. Do you know where I might find a free one?

Not even a clue. I always received some free trial copy when I bought computers online. In the past, it would come pre-loaded with Works as an alternative to Microsoft Office.

Maybe you can try to open it with NotePad or WordPad.

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

WoodysGirl said:
Not even a clue. I always received some free trial copy when I bought computers online. In the past, it would come pre-loaded with Works as an alternative to Microsoft Office.

Maybe you can try to open it with NotePad or WordPad.

Yeah, I tried notepad and wordpad but it just opens up some jumbled stuff. I'll keep looking...thanks.

YosemiteSam · Apr 7, 2015

You can try Libre Office. It's a free open source Office Suite.

You can also try Office 365. (web based version of Microsoft Office)

Finally, there are online tools that can help convert them to some other format you can edit.

WoodysGirl · Apr 7, 2015

5Stars said:
Yeah, I tried notepad and wordpad but it just opens up some jumbled stuff. I'll keep looking...thanks.

Here's a link I just found that may have some helpful info. On there I saw that they discontinued Microsoft Works in 2006.

http://www.file-extensions.org/wps-file-extension

In a pinch, take your external hard drive to the library or somewhere that has computers, plug it in, and then open the docs in Word and then save them.

viman96 · Apr 7, 2015

Or use Google Docs. It is free.

http://www.google.com/docs/about/

Seven · Apr 7, 2015

Go back to XP.............

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

WoodysGirl said:
Here's a link I just found that may have some helpful info. On there I saw that they discontinued Microsoft Works in 2006.

http://www.file-extensions.org/wps-file-extension

In a pinch, take your external hard drive to the library or somewhere that has computers, plug it in, and then open the docs in Word and then save them.

Thanks everyone! WoodysGirl...that worked fine! I read what I needed but then it changed my whole browser settings, but that's ok, I can get that back...you da woman!

WoodysGirl · Apr 7, 2015

5Stars said:
Thanks everyone! WoodysGirl...that worked fine! I read what I needed but then it changed my whole browser settings, but that's ok, I can get that back...you da woman!

Ha! It changed your browser settings? I'm sorry.

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

WoodysGirl said:
Ha! It changed your browser settings? I'm sorry.

It's alright...I saw what I needed to see. Now, I need to get my browsers setting back! lol

Google Chrome is now messing with me...

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

Seven said:
Go back to XP.............

I cannot ever go back, always forward...stay up with the masses. lol

LittleBoyBlue · Apr 7, 2015

Seven said:
Go back to XP.............

Like your screen name windows seven ;-)

LittleBoyBlue · Apr 7, 2015

5Stars said:
So, I have Windows 8.1 and have an external hard drive from my last HP laptop that died.

Well, I have some .wps files on the external drive that I cannot open at all! I have looked around on the net however I just cannot find anything that I can use to open these files. I have some old phone numbers and others documents that I would like to read.

Anyone have any ideas on how I can open these things! Frustrated!

Here is the solution.

http://www.zamzar.com/convert/wps-to-doc/

Download OpenOffice.

Please close this thread. SOLVED!

Seven · Apr 7, 2015

REDVOLUTION said:
Like your screen name windows seven ;-)

Hey! Hey! Let's keep the gloves up, shall we?

Seven · Apr 7, 2015

5Stars said:
I cannot ever go back, always forward...stay up with the messes. lol

FIFY...............

5Stars · Apr 7, 2015

I'm good to go...not only that, but now I can open any file on my external hard drive , and now Google is working just fine...thanks.

Computer guru's - help

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