My HP laptop has Vista Home Premium and only provided trial versions of Microsoft Office and M/soft Works that had trial periods that I'm now unable to access. I guess I waited too long to activate the tryouts.

My Microsoft Word 97, which is contained on Works suite 99 CD, was fine for my needs. I just write letters, simple paragraphs, etc....

Is there a way to use my Microsoft Word 97 cd on Vista?

When I inserted the cd, it seemed to make lots of noise. I couldn't tell what was going on.
Thanks for the two answers that I received!

My HP pc does have Microsoft Works!. I had problems using M/soft Works years ago, and so I always used M/soft Word. Also, thought that the M/soft Works was a trial version and unusable, also.

I had typed a Sales Contract to sell my used car last night and stayed up literally until 5:00 a.m., trying to get this thing to print out, and other problems with printer software, etc.

Hope you are able to read my reply, as I didn't see e-mail addresses to send thank-you responses. I'm also unable to rate replies.

Vista is the latest OS. Microsoft Word 97 is over 10 years ago so it probably will have problems if you can even successfully install it. I would recommend getting Microsoft Office 2003 and higher or you can get the OpenOffice for free.

Doesn't your Vista Home Premium contain Microsoft Works? I have Vista Home Premiumand mine came with Works, which is a simple word processing program - all I thought I needed also. Since you just write letters and simple stuff, that's probably all you need too.

I had Microsoft Office Pro 97 prior to getting a new computer with Vista H.P. When I tried to install it (the Office 97), it told me that the path was incorrect or something like that. Bottom line, I couldn't install it again into this computer.

Again, didn't yours come with Microsoft Works? That was the least expensive of the software they offered and would suit your needs as a simple word processer. I use it and it works VERY similar to Word 97... almost exactly the same. Doesn't have the cute little paper clip guy though :-( ha ha