Member Avatar for mhmac

I need to know if Office 97 (full version) can be loaded & operated on Windows XP before I buy new software. (Bought new computer, lost key to my old Office 97) Thanks, mhmac

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Short answer: yes — Office 97 will often install and run on Windows XP, but it is long out of Microsoft support and can behave unpredictably on newer machines. That explains the mixed reports in this thread: ’s experience (it “worked”) is common, but the product stopped receiving fixes years ago so compatibility and security problems are possible. (support.microsoft.com)

The common Access 97 problem reported by ("Out of memory") is a known Jet/Access issue on newer hardware (machines with ~1 GB RAM or certain Jet versions). Microsoft documented this and the recommended fixes are to install Office 97 Service Release 2 (SR‑2) and the updated Microsoft Jet 3.51 engine (Jet35sp3 / Jet 3.51), or to follow the KB guidance about the error. Practical troubleshooting steps that usually help:

  • Install Office 97 SR‑2, then install the Jet 3.51 update (Jet35sp3).
  • Compact & Repair the .mdb and make a fresh copy of the front end.
  • Verify the pagefile/virtual memory and test with fewer apps running.
  • If a machine has >=1 GB RAM and problems persist, run the DB inside a VM or on older OS hardware. (helparchive.huntertur.net)

About updates and the warning/loop reported by : because Office 97 is unsupported Microsoft may surface warnings or later updates can expose incompatibilities. Rather than turning off Windows Update system‑wide (unsafe), test updates on a spare machine or run legacy Office inside an isolated VM (VirtualBox/VMware) so the host stays patched while the legacy environment is preserved. (support.microsoft.com)

If Access/Office functionality is important long‑term, the safest path is migration: convert databases to a supported Access/format and run a supported Office build on a supported OS (see Microsoft upgrade guidance). If migration is not immediately possible, isolate Office 97 (VM, blocked network access, regular backups) and apply the Jet fixes above before relying on it in production. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for pcpalct

Sure...no reason why not. I've done it before to be honest and it worked with just some minor errors (mostly because the user was into modifying things he shouldn't have been...) :rolleyes:

Member Avatar for spycee

Sure...no reason why not. I've done it before to be honest and it worked with just some minor errors (mostly because the user was into modifying things he shouldn't have been...) :rolleyes:

I have done the same but I'm having problems with Access not working as its saying I'm out of Memory. All the other office programs run under XP Pro, but not Access and I don't no why?

Member Avatar for alc6379

I have done the same but I'm having problems with Access not working as its saying I'm out of Memory. All the other office programs run under XP Pro, but not Access and I don't no why?

More than likely because of some security configuration. Database programs are usually pretty finnicky, and can give you such problems.

I know it's pricey, but from a security standpoint, you guys should really upgrade to Office 2003. One of these days, you'll get a Word or Excel file that has some nasty macro in it, and you'll wish you'd have followed the advice I'm suggesting to you now...

Member Avatar for jwtx

Nope . . . You must go to Office 2003 to make ACCESS WORK . . . From experience and Specs . . .

Member Avatar for jku00d

I have Office 97 working with Windows XP SP2 too until lately in November 2007 certain Windows XP automatic Update (Don't know which one) casued Word 97 to loop. Then an Internet Explorer window pop up telling me that Office 97 is no longer supported and I must upgrade. I wish I knew which patch disabled Office 97 then I would like to back out the patch.

So, for those of you still have Office 97 working in Windows XP, don't turn on the Windows XP automatic update.

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