And there's the fact that software, on its own, never wears out, and the architecture of the platforms on which it runs doesn't change very much at all. There are no technical reasons why I shouldn't have been allowed to continue to run Office 97 on Windows 7, only financial ones. (I figured out all the registry hacks necessary to run it on an NT-style OS long ago.)
I had no problems installing and have no problems using Office97 on Windows 7.
My issues were:
1. If you want to run as a restricted user, then:
A. You must set "full control" permissions on the software directory; it won't save normal.dot there if you don't.
B. Excel spreadsheet equations have to be specifically enabled in the registry or they won't work.
C. There are issues with other specific Office 97 features, such as the "gallery" or whatever it's called for browing graphics, all of which require registry hacks.
2. We use RightFax network fax software. Several years ago an update to that software broke its ability to use the "print to the fax printer" metaphor with that version of Office.
3. Minor problems also occur for which there is no work-around, but which I could live with if I didn't need the fax feature:
A. Office toolbar often fails to load on boot-up, or interferes with other things loading, such as anti-virus software.
B. Spell-check doesn't work properly at times, and you can't save new spellings to the "dictionary".
In my work environment it was really the fax issue that hosed it for me. That being said, the ongoing clamor from the spreadsheet people for "modern" features was eventually going to sink me anyway.
Ken Dibble www.stic-cil.org