Windows 8.1

[jake01]

 Just got new lap top  running Windows 8.1. I have loaded Office 2013.
 I am trying to download a word document (written in Windows office 97-2003) from the internet. It downloads but will not open. Any ideas please.
 Thank you for any help.
 Jake01.

[falcybe]

Hello Jake01,

I have only just seen your posting, having been off doing other things. It is very odd that the latest office won't recognize an earlier version as it is usually the other way around. Mind you, Windows 8 does have a few quirks compared to earlier versions. Earlier today I had a problem opening one of my own documents I had placed on windows live directly in Word. It opened in the end. Are you downloading to your pc and then trying to open or are you trying to open the document which is still on the web? The latter sometimes causes conflicts between two versions of Windows.

[japeflakes]

By windows office you mean Microsoft Office I guess:
When you down load the file what is the file extension (after the . in the file name, eg doc or docx )

[jake01]

Hello falcybe.  Yes I download the file to my pc( the file has the "WORD" logo) but will not open in word. I am lead to believe that if I download 'open office' free on the web it will open! But when you pay good money for a genuine Microsoft product you expect it to do the job!

[japeflakes]

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-word-2013-to-open-documents-created-in-earlier-versions-of-word-HA102749315.aspx

[jake01]

Hello fapeflakes. Yes the genuine Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013.
  Extension on the downloaded file: ( docx)
  According to the default settings word should open a multitude of extension, this is puzzling me!

[jake01]

Hello Japeflakes.  I was writing my last post when you sent your last. I will certainly try the address you suggest. Thank you.

[japeflakes]

Do you know the source of the document is OK/safe/reliable

[japeflakes]

.docx should open!