About six months ago I switched computers and OS from Windows XP [32 bit] to Windows 7 [64] bit. On the old machine I had several documents that were written and stored on Microsoft Works. I haven't had to use any of those files so I did not try to install Microsoft workson my new machine, until this morning. I needed to retrieve some of those old files so I dragged out the CD' for Microsoft Works and tried to install the word processor and the spreadsheet of MicosoftWorks into my new machine. It didn't take. What is worse, the Word and Excel programs that were in my machine from Office 2000 didn't work now either. . . . So I tried to use system restore and got the message that "System restore" did not restore successfully. So then I tried to undo the restore, got the same message. So then I tried to re-install Office 2000 but the installer will not work.. Now I am afraid to try anything. Does anyone have an idea what is going on?? How can I get out of this mess? Thanks ahead for reading and for any advice that you may haveSomewhat confused but let me see if i have it right.
1.2 computer involved. one XP the other win7.
2.Some data created on the "old " computer XP in MS works.
3. Tried to install MS works and Excel on Win 7 computer.
4.Have lost computer with Win 7 on it.
If you want to access the data on the "old" xp computer what is preventing you from doing so?
On the Win 7 computer can you access "safe mode" And when you try to boot the Win 7 machine what are the screen displays,beeps.lights,whatever? truenorthThanks for the comeback Truenorth.

All of my data was transfered to the new computer last Oct. Some of it was created by MS works but I didn't have need to access it so I did not try to install MS works on the new machine. Istead I installed MS Office 2000 and have been using that the last few months. After I had transfered all of the data from the old machine I cleared out the hard drive and got rid of it.

This morning I needed to access one of my old files on the new machine that was created on MS works but it wouldn't open because MS works was not installed... So I tried to install it using the old installation CD's that I had used to install it on the old machine. HOwever, it did not work. NOt sure why. Maybe the program was not compatible with Windows 7. I tried to activate the compatibility wizard with no success. HOwever, at that time, I discovered that Microsoft Word and Excell from Office 2000 were no longer working. Then I tried to use system restore to get back to when they were working and I got the message that "System Restore" was not successful.

The new machine seems to be working in all other aspects except when I tried to re-install MS Word and Excell, it freezes up. Doesnt go blue screen, it JUSTS sits and (who knows what?). I have considered trying a Windows 7 recover but I will loose a lot of programs if I do..

Thanks again for the comeback. Hope this INFO was helpful. JIMTruenorth... I didn't finish my response did I? The machine boots up fine. I can open any file on it except those using Word Or Excel. Haven't tried SAFE mode yet. I never know what to do with it when I do..I suggest installing CCleaner and running its scans, including the registry cleaner. This is a situation where a registry cleaner may help solve a problem and CCleaner is a very safe registry cleaner. I suggest getting the Slim version of CCleaner here: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds. Once you run CCleaner's file cleaner and registry cleaner (these are two separate actions with CCleaner), try opening Word and Excel files. If they still will not work, uninstall Office, run CCleaner's two scans again, and then reinstall Office 2000.

If you have Service Packs installed in Office 2000 and want to get them back after reinstalling Office 2000, you'll need to reinstall them by downloading from Microsoft.

Regarding MS Works, what version do you have? I imagine it's older than version 8. If so, it's not compatible with Windows 7. See http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Search.aspx?l=en-us&type=Software&s=Microsoft%20Works

But, are you sure your old MS Works files can not be opened in Office 2000? I'm sure some versions of Excel can open files from some versions of MS Works. In fact, here's a reference on this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315757
Soybean: Thank you. I'll get right at it. Will let you know how it comes out. I have always been a little leery of CCleaner because it gets rid of so much stuff, most of which I know nothing about..... Thanks again JIMSOYBEAN: OK I tried using Ccleaner then uni-nstalled Office 2000 and re-installed it. Evrything seems to be working ok with a couple of anomalies. [ 1) While trying to install office 2000 Disk 1 the computer became inactive (hung up) at about 60% of the way thru the installation. After waiting about an hour, I used the Task Manager to "END the Task" the installation. At that point WORD started working but not EXCEL. So I tried to install Disk 2 of Office 2000 but it would not do it because "some other installation was in progress".. So I reset the machine and Disk 2 installed OKAY. 2) While EXCEL is working OKAY, when I try to use it it gives me the message: "One of your object libraries(stdole32.tlb) is missing or damaged. PLease run Setup to install it. At which point I tried to re-install Office 2000 and again it hung up at about 60%. If I double click OK on the message, EXCEL kicks in and seems to be working . What is object libraries(stdole32.tlb)? Getting back to part of your original objectives. Trying to access the data that you transferred from the XP computer to the Win 7 computer created in MS Works. Do you have "word pad" available from "accessories " in your programs? You should try that if you have it. Now as to the installation of the original programs that you had not and could not install (MS Works). Have you checked as to whether the version you have on disc is compatible with win 7 ? Have you checked to see if an upgrade (free/maybe not free) is available if it isn't? Is your installation of Office 2000 now working as it should (i,m unclear about where that is)? truenorthTRUENORTH: You are right. My MicrosoftWorks is vs 4 which is not compatible with Windows 7. I keep forgetting compatibility issues now. After I ran Ccleaner and re-installed Office 200 my WORD and EXCEL seem to be working with one small glitch. When I try to use EXCEL it gives the following message "One of your object libraries(stdole32.tlb) is missing or damaged." But if I click OK twice it opens up and works fine. How do you figure? ? ? ?

Anyway, I can live with it now. I have to find out what stdole32.tlb is and what to do aboout it. Thanks very much to you and to SOYBEAN for your help. You guys have pulled another fish out of my fire. I am most appreciative.. Have a good day and God Bless. ....JIMSounds good but to answer the question of your error message as to what it is and what you can do about it . Try this site (note the included supposed fix file in .zip) as part of the "solution. Thank you for the kind words and good luck,truenorth
http://forums.techguy.org/business-applications/809161-solved-stdole32-tlb.html