Vista - How to read Works 4 .wps files in Vista [Works 9?]

A friend has word processor files with the extension .wps created in
Works 4 in Win95.
He has bought a new computer with Vista loaded. He says he's unable to
get Vista (I think he said Works 9) to read these old files.
How can he convert them please?

Mike

download and install Virtual PC 2007 from Microsofts Website (free) in Vista

install an old Windows 9x/NT inside VPCs Virtual Machine

install an old Version of the Software "Works" inside this old Windows.

;-)


Smartie

"Mike Arnold" <teddy@xxxxxx> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:xfednV-5ULvKsH3aRVnyiQA@xxxxxx

Thanks Smartie. Seems rather complicated but very happy if it works, as
I'm sure it will.
There's no simpler way?

Mike

smartie77 wrote:

"Mike Arnold" <teddy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uNudnaQoF88PoH3anZ2dnUVZ8tSdnZ2d@xxxxxxUnless the old computer still available, the Virtual PC route is your best
bet. Yes it's kinda complicated, but it will work.

If the old computer is still available, resave the Works files as Rich Text
..rtf or Word .doc files.

I'm afraid there is no other way.. Works 4.0 is dating back to the Windows
3.x era and support for these files has been dropped in all now around
applications.

Give VPC a try, it's a very simple wizard driven setup and needs only few
MBs of Ram and maybe 1GB of Harddisk space for a (simulated) windows 98 pc.

Of course you need the old windows CD and Product Key.

Greetings

Smartie



"Mike Arnold" <teddy@xxxxxx> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:uNudnaQoF88PoH3anZ2dnUVZ8tSdnZ2d@xxxxxx

Thanks. Old computer is still available. So you are saying that .rtf or
..doc files created in his old win95 system will be readable in his brand
new Vista setup? If so, that sounds much the best solution!

Thanks Bob

Bob Campbell wrote:

Before jumping feet first into the VPC solution, you might want to try this old MS Works file converter.
Download details: Works Converter for Import/Export of Works Word Processor (.wps) Documents (Wp2krtf.exe)

It's pretty dated - its original purpose was for converting Works 4 files for use in Works 2000 (looks as if it will convert them to RTF). But maybe if you can first get them to the 2000 format they might play nice-nice with Works 9. Might be worth the extra effort if it ends up saving you the time and effort that will be required to set up a virtual PC. I'd be sure to try it on a backup copy first though.

You may find more help over on the MS Works upgrade site as well.
Microsoft Works - Product Upgrades and Downloads

"Mike Arnold" <teddy@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:PqSdnVOzTZ25333anZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@xxxxxxIt will have a better chance than .wps format. If that fails, then save
the documents as plain .txt files. You will lose all the formatting of
course, but the actual text will be preserved.

Bob Campbell wrote:Thanks for your help. I will try it on Thursday when I go to see my friend.

Mike

Thanks too to mkprillman. This seems like another route worth trying.
I'm most grateful.

I'm getting a much better response than I ever expected; any more?!

Mike

mkprilliman wrote: