Can't open documents

Have two laptops -- one with XP (w/MSWord) and one with Vista (w/MSWorks)...

I sent word attachments from XP to Vista in .doc and when I open it, I can read it but not save it nor print it in the Vista CPU.

Vista will open and read MSWord doc, but won't let me print. SO, I saved it in .wps and resent to myself. Vista will not open nor read nor print ... but it has MSWorks?

I know some of the programs won't install in Vista, one way to get more $$$, I guess. Buy new Vista programs that you already paid for with XP ... but, it would seem that a CPU should at least open and print email attachments. How can anyone expect to buy every single program over again just, or every program someone else has, just to read emails -- so can one of you tech guys please help the CPU stupid veteran .. thanks M44

Word and Works are generally not compatible. It has nothing to do with Windows which is an operating system while MSWord and MSWorks are application programs that are both compatible with Windows but not each other. That is intentional because Works comes free with a new PC but Word has to be purchased separately. Both are Microsoft products but are really competing products.

Well, I finally figured it out, but even when I sent the attachment in MSWorks from XP, the MSWorks program in Vista would not open it.

I finally downloaded it into Works, then saved it, then opened it -- but that's three procedures, and I thought it should just open it. Thanks for info anyway, I still don't know why it won't open directly, my CPU stupid self asks - but got what I need at least ...

cheldreth is correct.....Word and Works are NOT compatible, even though they are both Microsoft products.

Only work arounds I know of are to save the document as a .txt file...both of them will read that. Only problem is that you lose any formatting (i.e. bold, italics, unlining, etc)

Also, you might try running a Google search on "Works to Word converter"

There a few of these utility programs available on line. Some are free and some cost $$$. It depends on how often you use them which one to get. And of course, the more elaborate ones will do more.

Good luck!