Can't install Word '98 to my new Mac

M

MaryJ.D.

Version: Older version
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

My old Mac, OS 10.2.8, ran Word '98 no problem. My new Mac, OS 10.5, will run all of Office except Word. It says it needs a Classic environment. On my old Mac, Office ran from OS 10 not 9. Is there a way to put Word '98 onto my new Mac?
 
M

Michel Bintener

Office 98 did not, strictly speaking, run in OS X; it required the Classic
mode, which allowed you to run OS 9 applications more or less transparently
alongside OS X. This Classic mode is no longer supported as of Mac OS X
10.5, so the chances of your being able to run Word 98 on your new Mac are
quite slim. There are several classic Mac OS emulators out there for the new
Intel Macs, but I don't know anything about them. Try performing a Google
search and see what you can come up with.


Version: Older version
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

My old Mac, OS 10.2.8, ran Word '98 no problem. My new Mac, OS 10.5, will run
all of Office except Word. It says it needs a Classic environment. On my old
Mac, Office ran from OS 10 not 9. Is there a way to put Word '98 onto my new
Mac?

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:mac (Entourage & Word)

*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***
 
C

CyberTaz

Hi Mary -

Simply put: What you're running up against is that Office 98 is not
compatible with the Leopard (10.5.x) version of OS X.

That version of Office will only run on pre-OS X (now referred to as
"Classic") Mac operating systems. What's confusing is that prior to Leopard
OS X supported the Classic environment so most legacy software could be used
on non-Intel based Macs running 10.4 or prior. IOW, Apple's previous cats
provided *emulation* for OS 9. However, Leopard no longer supports the
Classic environment (which doesn't run on Intel Macs even if it did).

Long story short, you'll need to upgrade to a newer version of Mac Office -
either 2004 or 2008, depending on your requirements - or seek out
alternative Leopard-compatible software. If you're interested in *upgrading*
to 2008 its quite affordable if you can use the Home & Student Edition...
see the information here:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/Office2008/shop-now.mspx

If you want 2004 try Google - it's no longer being produced, but it is still
available from a number of vendors. Honestly, though, if you're going to
continue to use either newer version of Office I recommend purchasing the
full version rather than the upgrade. There are a number of reasons, but one
of the most significant is that if you ever have to reinstall & can't locate
the good ole Office 98 CD you'll be dead in the water :)

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
 
P

Phillip Jones

SheepShaver works the best.

That's how a following of WordPerfect 3.5.e is getting it to work on an
Intel Mac.
Setup SheepShaver, Then load OS 9 or 8.6.1 within Sheepshaver.

Look it up on Google.

Michel said:
Office 98 did not, strictly speaking, run in OS X; it required the Classic
mode, which allowed you to run OS 9 applications more or less transparently
alongside OS X. This Classic mode is no longer supported as of Mac OS X
10.5, so the chances of your being able to run Word 98 on your new Mac are
quite slim. There are several classic Mac OS emulators out there for the new
Intel Macs, but I don't know anything about them. Try performing a Google
search and see what you can come up with.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto:p[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>
 
P

Phillip Jones

One Caveat to mention if you use Macros any at all or such things as
Solver in Excel. Buy a copy of of 2004 instead of 2008.
If you never used Macros or Solver then you'll be fine with 2008.
Hi Mary -

Simply put: What you're running up against is that Office 98 is not
compatible with the Leopard (10.5.x) version of OS X.

That version of Office will only run on pre-OS X (now referred to as
"Classic") Mac operating systems. What's confusing is that prior to Leopard
OS X supported the Classic environment so most legacy software could be used
on non-Intel based Macs running 10.4 or prior. IOW, Apple's previous cats
provided *emulation* for OS 9. However, Leopard no longer supports the
Classic environment (which doesn't run on Intel Macs even if it did).

Long story short, you'll need to upgrade to a newer version of Mac Office -
either 2004 or 2008, depending on your requirements - or seek out
alternative Leopard-compatible software. If you're interested in *upgrading*
to 2008 its quite affordable if you can use the Home & Student Edition...
see the information here:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/Office2008/shop-now.mspx

If you want 2004 try Google - it's no longer being produced, but it is still
available from a number of vendors. Honestly, though, if you're going to
continue to use either newer version of Office I recommend purchasing the
full version rather than the upgrade. There are a number of reasons, but one
of the most significant is that if you ever have to reinstall & can't locate
the good ole Office 98 CD you'll be dead in the water :)

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto:p[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>
 
M

MaryJ.D.

Thanks everyone for responding to my question. All your contributions are really helpful. I think I'm understanding more what is going on.

Thanks again,

Mary
 

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