Replacing PC - which software

[Arborbridge]

I know the computers board might be the one for this qurey, but on the other hand I need help from HYPTUSS users, as follows:-

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and either buy a new PC or replace my hard drive sometime soon.

What I'm anxious about is that I've been told that even replacing my hard drive with a modern SSD could mean I have problems installing my beloved ancient Office Suite from CDs (bought as a "competitive upgrade" around 2007, I'd guess). Apparently, W10 or W11 if installed will refuse to load a "legacy" product of this type.

The question is, if I should need to buy a later version of Micosoft Office, which one would enable me to run not only HYPTUSS, but also do XIRR calculations? I have a later version of Excel on a laptop and it is not only does not recognise XIRR, but is a right ugly program to use with many unecessary complexities in the toolbar.

Alternatively, is there some other program I can load which will do the same things - i.e recognise my XIRR formulae and run HYPTUSS - and run my old Excel SSs which I would still want to access?

Any advice to help my deciding what to do next would be gratefully received. This brave new world has run on a long way in the past 20 years and they've made buying a simple thing much complicated and confusing, it seems. Currys, for instance looks like it is offerring over a dozen versions of Microsoft Officec, and I fear there waits an elephant trap for me*.

* My local computer guy suggested one consting £159, BTW.
Arb.

Moderator Message:
At the OP's request, I've moved this to the Technology Board as the discussion is now a bit wider (chas49)

[Urbandreamer]

Regardless of if you chose to use Windows or Linux, can I recommend LibreOffice.

https://www.libreoffice.org/
The spreadsheet does all that you want and our wonderful HYPTUSS maintainers provide a version to run on it.
It will certainly provide "most" of the functions that Microsoft Office does, ignoring things like linkage to Teams and Microsoft's DMS (Document management system).

Comparison.
https://history-computer.com/libreoffic ... ft-office/

[kiloran]

I know the computers board might be the one for this qurey, but on the other hand I need help from HYPTUSS users, as follows:-

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and either buy a new PC or replace my hard drive sometime soon.

What I'm anxious about is that I've been told that even replacing my hard drive with a modern SSD could mean I have problems installing my beloved ancient Office Suite from CDs (bought as a "competitive upgrade" around 2007, I'd guess). Apparently, W10 or W11 if installed will refuse to load a "legacy" product of this type.

If you just want to replace the hard drive with an SSD, that should be simple. Create a back-up image of the hard drive using Macrium Reflect (or backup software of your choice), replace the hard drive with an SSD, then copy the image to the SSD. I've done this a few times with no problem. No need to reinstall your Office Suite

The question is, if I should need to buy a later version of Micosoft Office, which one would enable me to run not only HYPTUSS, but also do XIRR calculations? I have a later version of Excel on a laptop and it is not only does not recognise XIRR, but is a right ugly program to use with many unecessary complexities in the toolbar.

Alternatively, is there some other program I can load which will do the same things - i.e recognise my XIRR formulae and run HYPTUSS - and run my old Excel SSs which I would still want to access?
Arb.

I replaced my Office 2010 with 2016 a few years ago. It has XIRR

Or how about LibreOffice? It runs HYPTUSS and has XIRR. It will open old Excel documents, but will not run any Excel VBA macros


--kiloran

[ReformedCharacter]

* My local computer guy suggested one consting £159, BTW.
Arb.

Hmm, Microsoft Office 2019 Professional Plus for Windows 10 11 Office 2019 Professional Plus Product
Regular Price £179.00 Special Price £28.95

https://pckeys.uk/microsoft-office-2019-professional-plus

I've bought several times from PCKeys.

RC

[kiloran]

* My local computer guy suggested one consting £159, BTW.
Arb.

Hmm, Microsoft Office 2019 Professional Plus for Windows 10 11 Office 2019 Professional Plus Product
Regular Price £179.00 Special Price £28.95

https://pckeys.uk/microsoft-office-2019-professional-plus

I've bought several times from PCKeys.

RC

I can also recommend PCKeys

--kiloran

[Howard]

I bought a refurbished business PC and Dell laptop from ebay suppliers. Also MS Office for one user for each machine for less than £10 from Livecards who currently offer it for just over £8. Both machines have a SSD drive and are very fast compared with other PCs I have used. The main reason seems to be that they don't have any bloatware installed and so the only software used is what I have installed.

I do have a large full price Monitor which is excellent.

Worth considering?

Howard

[monabri]

If you were to buy a new computer, I'd simply buy Office 2019 for the new PC and then copy your current HYPTUSS files and other excel files across using a memory stick. I reckon that they will all run fine. You can then decide if you want to purchase the SSD as a backup to clone your current hard disc just in case you have some special software locked to your current pc ... but you might find you don't need to bother!


HYPTUSS ...you could download and use LibreOffice with HYPTUSS.. However, why not try downloading LIbreOffice and having a play - it's a free download. Personally, I'd pay the £30 and get the office 2019 upgrade mentioned above

XIRR...or rather, errr? why do you think that XIRR won't be available in a later version of Excel? Your excel spreadsheets will open and read/run as normal.

[monabri]

"I have a later version of Excel on a laptop and it is not only does not recognise XIRR, but is a right ugly program to use with many unecessary complexities in the toolbar."

Which version of Excel is that?

https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins- ... fice%20365.

"XIRR function in Excel
The Excel XIRR function returns the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows that may or may not be periodic.
The function was introduced in Excel 2007 and is available in all later versions of Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, and Excel for Office 365."

[Arborbridge]

Thanks for the ideas folks. I know there are solutions, but when you have never done more than buy from your own tame "box maker" and had him sort things out for you, or just installed from CDs, my problem is that I would not know how to go about anything complex. If it didn't work I'd be lost. And since my tame man has retired I'm dependent on the local chap in the village, so if says he cannot install my old versions of Office due to this "legacy" issue, then that road is blocked.

As regards Libre Office, maybe a route forward would be to download it on to my current PC and give it a road test.

I have Office 2010 on a laptop with W11, but it won't recognise XIRR formulae, and I can't even solve that one!

Arb.

[Arborbridge]

"I have a later version of Excel on a laptop and it is not only does not recognise XIRR, but is a right ugly program to use with many unecessary complexities in the toolbar."

Which version of Excel is that?

https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins- ... fice%20365.

"XIRR function in Excel
The Excel XIRR function returns the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows that may or may not be periodic.
The function was introduced in Excel 2007 and is available in all later versions of Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, and Excel for Office 365."

That's interesting. If it's "available", why won't it recognise my XIRR formulae - is it possible being "available" still means it needs to be installed or activated in some way? I remember on the older version there was some maths pack that needed installing.

The Excel on the laptop is 2010. If you try the help button, all you get is that this version is now retired. How wonderfully helpful!

Arb.

[Arborbridge]

Sorry - ignore what I said about 2010 not recognising XIRR - it does.

I think the confusion was that we had another laptop with a different "down scale" version which did not have the maths function. Having just tested the later laptop, it does run XIRR - si I always have that as a standby.

Arb.

[Urbandreamer]

"I have a later version of Excel on a laptop and it is not only does not recognise XIRR, but is a right ugly program to use with many unecessary complexities in the toolbar."

Which version of Excel is that?

https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins- ... fice%20365.

"XIRR function in Excel
The Excel XIRR function returns the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows that may or may not be periodic.
The function was introduced in Excel 2007 and is available in all later versions of Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, and Excel for Office 365."

That's interesting. If it's "available", why won't it recognise my XIRR formulae - is it possible being "available" still means it needs to be installed or activated in some way? I remember on the older version there was some maths pack that needed installing.

The Excel on the laptop is 2010. If you try the help button, all you get is that this version is now retired. How wonderfully helpful!

Arb.

I believe that XIRR is a standard function of all spreadsheets today. As for why it won't recognize your formula I have had problems in the past.
In particular I have, upon occasion, noted that some implementations expect/require that the table of entries are sorted in ascending date. Don't forget that the top of the list should be the NEGATIVE current value.
I.e From Google Sheets

Code: Select all

Account   Date          Shares    Xiir Price
      ]20/10/2023   11370   -£25,468.80
SIPP   11/04/2022   770.00   £1,988.47
SIPP   10/01/2022   1,235.00   £2,898.20
SIPP   10/12/2021   475.00   £1,093.16
SIPP   10/11/2021   1,445.00   £3,293.64
SIPP   10/09/2021   2,095.00   £4,792.78
SIPP   10/08/2021   945.00   £2,190.10
Pilling   19/07/2021   4,405.00   £10,274.96

xiir   -1.96%


[Arborbridge]

I believe that XIRR is a standard function of all spreadsheets today. As for why it won't recognize your formula I have had problems in the past.
In particular I have, upon occasion, noted that some implementations expect/require that the table of entries are sorted in ascending date. Don't forget that the top of the list should be the NEGATIVE current value.
I.e From Google Sheets

Code: Select all

Account   Date          Shares    Xiir Price
      ]20/10/2023   11370   -£25,468.80
SIPP   11/04/2022   770.00   £1,988.47
SIPP   10/01/2022   1,235.00   £2,898.20
SIPP   10/12/2021   475.00   £1,093.16
SIPP   10/11/2021   1,445.00   £3,293.64
SIPP   10/09/2021   2,095.00   £4,792.78
SIPP   10/08/2021   945.00   £2,190.10
Pilling   19/07/2021   4,405.00   £10,274.96

xiir   -1.96%


I'd never thought about whether the first entry should be negative, but it happens they always have been! As for the date order, mine alway are in ascending order (i.e. last date lowest in the column) because that is the natural way to add new transactions. I can't see me wanting to do it the other way round.
My version doesn't seem to mind if dates aren't in order, though I've always made sure they are - just in case.

Arb.

[mc2fool]

"I have a later version of Excel on a laptop and it is not only does not recognise XIRR, but is a right ugly program to use with many unecessary complexities in the toolbar."

Which version of Excel is that?

https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins- ... fice%20365.

"XIRR function in Excel
The Excel XIRR function returns the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows that may or may not be periodic.
The function was introduced in Excel 2007 and is available in all later versions of Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, and Excel for Office 365."

Beh, I have Excel 2000 and it has XIRR. Maybe they mean as built-in?

Arb, in some versions of Excel at least XIRR is part of the Analysis Toolpak add-in and you have to tick it in, so to speak, in the add-in selections (menu item Tools->Add-Ins... in Excel 2000 )

[TUK020]

Nearly a couple of years ago, I bought a new small computer with a SSD, downloaded an Linux Mint config onto a flash stick and installed it, downloaded Libre Office.
One of my primary consideration in this was actually security - I was looking for a secure computer from which I could do all of my home finance on.
I was amazed at how a relatively low power machine was operating much faster than my high spec work laptop Windows machine.

getting good performance
- not having bloatware on the machine
- not having a bloatware OS
- sufficient RAM to run multiple applicaitons
- SSD to switch between apps

processor power comes a long way down the list

[Bminusrob]

Apparently, W10 or W11 if installed will refuse to load a "legacy" product of this type.
Arb.

Are you sure W10 or W11 won't run your legacy software? Many years ago, I bought a copy of Microsoft office (2007) with licenses to run on three machines. As time has gone on, and I have upgraded my PC, I have successfully installed this software on my new machines, including W10 and W11, which I am currently using.

The more interesting problem is that most modern PCs (laptops) don't have CD or DVD drives, and I have found it necessary to copy the required files from the CD to a memory stick using an older PC, so that I can install the software on newer PCs.

[Arborbridge]

Apparently, W10 or W11 if installed will refuse to load a "legacy" product of this type.
Arb.

Are you sure W10 or W11 won't run your legacy software? Many years ago, I bought a copy of Microsoft office (2007) with licenses to run on three machines. As time has gone on, and I have upgraded my PC, I have successfully installed this software on my new machines, including W10 and W11, which I am currently using.

The more interesting problem is that most modern PCs (laptops) don't have CD or DVD drives, and I have found it necessary to copy the required files from the CD to a memory stick using an older PC, so that I can install the software on newer PCs.

My CDs were installed and do run on my current W10, which was upgraded years ago from whatever I had before that on my machine (W7, maybe). As I understand it, the problem may not be W10 so much as what happens when he replaces the hard drive and re-installs a later version of W10 on it rather than the original upgrade of W10 from W7 - it's a different version.
He said something (if I remember rightly) about the W10 (W11) which he would have to install on the new HD as having some facility to detect legacy programs and not allow them to install. It sounds like b/s. but on the other hand I wouldn't put it past microsoft to do something to make it impossible to carry on re-using old software.

Arb.

[Arborbridge]

* My local computer guy suggested one consting £159, BTW.
Arb.

Hmm, Microsoft Office 2019 Professional Plus for Windows 10 11 Office 2019 Professional Plus Product
Regular Price £179.00 Special Price £28.95

https://pckeys.uk/microsoft-office-2019-professional-plus

I've bought several times from PCKeys.

RC

From what others are saying, the one you bought here, above, should also run the XIRR calculation. Can you confirm that? Then I can buy a cheapish new PC and junk my old one.

It could be a good option to go for. I notice from the price list they will supply on CDs but only for 1 PC. How is it possible to stop it being installed on a second PC, or from being re-installable? I would have thought the main advantage of buying on CD is that one can re-install it whenever there is some sort of hardware failure.

Arb.

[servodude]

Hmm, Microsoft Office 2019 Professional Plus for Windows 10 11 Office 2019 Professional Plus Product
Regular Price £179.00 Special Price £28.95

https://pckeys.uk/microsoft-office-2019-professional-plus

I've bought several times from PCKeys.

RC

From what others are saying, the one you bought here, above, should also run the XIRR calculation. Can you confirm that? Then I can buy a cheapish new PC and junk my old one.

It could be a good option to go for. I notice from the price list they will supply on CDs but only for 1 PC. How is it possible to stop it being installed on a second PC, or from being re-installable? I would have thought the main advantage of buying on CD is that one can re-install it whenever there is some sort of hardware failure.

Arb.

You need an activation "key" to make the software work properly once installed - it's not uncommon for that to require internet access to validate
It can tell the PC based on various hardware identifiers

[Arborbridge]

I emailed the guy who used to build and maintain the PCs for my company to see if I could drag him out of retirement. The answer was in the negative, but he commented:
"the way I'd cope with your issue would be to clone the existing drive to a larger SSD then it'll run exactly as before. Clonezilla would do that and it's free."

I wouldn't have much of a clue how to translate that into practice, but I'm sure it would be easy to some of you computers whizzes.

I'm not clear if he means buy another machine and do that, or what. In any case, I thought just cloning programs wouldn't work because they need to be "installed".

Arb.