Windows 10 / Wordperfect X4

DWFII · 26 Sep 2019

Mods--I posted this question in another thread that was several years old. i got a notification to that effect and a suggestion to start an new thread. So...

I am upgrading my computer hardware and am thinking about upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I resisted upgrading to Win 10 specifically because I had numerous 'legacy' programs that scuttlebutt (Corel forums) said wouldn't work with 10.

One of the most important (to me) is WordPerfect X4. Yes, i know..."get a newer version." But this is not an option for financial reasons, alone (and i hate having to purchase new versions of perfectly functioning software every time Windows puts out a new iteration. More importantly, I have a number of macros that I sweated over and I don't know if they will work with a newer version (last time I upgraded WP they had to be re-coded, IIRC). I could easily switch to Libre Office or almost any other word processor (except Microsoft) but for the macros.

I've seen posts all over the internet that say if you upgrade to 10 from 7 that WP and other Corel programs such as Draw, Paint and Ventura 10 will work fine. And then I've seen posts that say they won't work properly. (And they won't install at all on a clean Win 10 install.)

Can someone give me a definitive answer?

Caledon Ken · 26 Sep 2019

Hi.

Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer but maybe a path to an answer.

You didn't say what kind of system you have and I was wondering if you have a a spare drive?

My thinking. Take your spare drive and install Windows 10 clean, skip the product code and complete installation. It will work fine, you just can't customize. Then try your installs of X4 and test some functionality.

If this works there are several paths forward, You can still upgrade 7 to 10 for free which helps with options. Macrium is also free so you could Image to give you a way back to current state.

Do you have a spare drive and are you comfortable installing?

Others may have answer or other ideas.

Ken

Ztruker · 26 Sep 2019

Run Win 7 as a Hyper-V Virtual Machime and run WordPerfect X4 there. Should work exactly as it does now. The VM will be a window on your Windows 10 desktop like any other window with full cut and past and file sharing between the VM and the host when running in Enhanced mode (I know, just got this working with the help of Bree and Kari).

DWFII · 26 Sep 2019

Ztruker said:

Run Win 7 as a Hyper-V Virtual Machime and run WordPerfect X4 there. Should work exactly as it does now. The VM will be a window on your Windows 10 desktop like any other window with full cut and past and file sharing between the VM and the host when running in Enhanced mode (I know, just got this working with the help of Bree and Kari).

Sounds like a plan. So I'd have to reinstall WP in the Virtual machine. Would CorelDraw X4 install in the VM? With the same results?

Can I leave the user created files, templates and macos on a separate drive? Will the VM be able to access those files? How hard is it to print from WPX4 on the VM?

Ztruker · 26 Sep 2019

You can access any of the partitions on the host from the VM so yes, they could stay on the host and be used from the VM.

You can print to the host printer from the VM, or should be able to. I've not tried it yet.

There are some real experts here on tenforums with Hyper-V VMs, @Kari, @Bree being two I know off the top of my head who have helped me get going with it.

Kari · 27 Sep 2019

Ztruker said:

Run Win 7 as a Hyper-V Virtual Machime and run WordPerfect X4 there. Should work exactly as it does now. The VM will be a window on your Windows 10 desktop like any other window with full cut and past and file sharing between the VM and the host when running in Enhanced mode (I know, just got this working with the help of Bree and Kari).

Correction: Hyper-V Enhanced Mode does not work on Windows 7 virtual machines. From another thread:

Kari said:

Enhanced Mode requires guest OS to be Windows Server 2012 R2 or later, or Windows 8.1 or later on Generation 2 virtual machines, Windows 10 Pro, Education or Enterprise guest OS on Generation 1 virtual machines.

Tutorial: Turn On or Off Hyper-V Enhanced Session Mode in Windows 10

Kari

DWFII · 27 Sep 2019

Kari said:

Correction: Hyper-V Enhanced Mode does not work on Windows 7 virtual machines. From another thread:

Kari

Does that mean I can't run Windows 10 as my OS and install legacy programs such as Wordperfect X4 or CorelDraw X4 on the VM and have everything work as it does now?

Bree · 27 Sep 2019

Ztruker said:

There are some real experts here on tenforums with Hyper-V VMs, @Kari, @Bree being two I know off the top of my head who have helped me get going with it.

You're too kind. I feel I'm just one or two steps ahead of you on the learning path with much more to learn. @Kari and @cereberus are two that I have leaned from.

TenForums is such a great place to learn

Berton · 27 Sep 2019

I've been using WordPerfect since my first computer in '92 with MS-DOS 5, Windows 3.1 and WordPerfect for Windows 5.1. With all the upgrades over the years I now have WP X8 on my main machine but I've not had many issues as I don't have a need for Macros which seems to be the main stumbling block with upgrading versions as they come out.

WordPerfect has some features that are a bit easy/quicker to work with than other similar programs for those folks that are not using them on a daily office-type scenario. An example was Microsoft Works for home/consumer users that was discontinued with version 9.x.

I have on hand WinXP, WinVista, Win7 and Win10 Home and Pro computers and even Win3.1 computer that needs a new CMOS barrel-type battery but still works. The Vista Notebook works but is doing its best to break the hinges for the display panel.

DWFII · 27 Sep 2019

Berton said:

I've been using WordPerfect since my first computer in '92 with MS-DOS 5, Windows 3.1 and WordPerfect for Windows 5.1. With all the upgrades over the years I now have WP X8 on my main machine but I've not had many issues as I don't have a need for Macros which seems to be the main stumbling block with upgrading versions as they come out.

Yes. I've been using WordPerfect since MS-DOS 5, as well.

In another thread I mentioned that my recollection is that when I upgraded to a newer version...as I've done a number of times...my macros didn't work and had to be re-written. Someone in that other thread discounted that memory but since I am not a programmer or even a WP guru, those macros were a difficult project for me. At 73, I don't really want to have to revisit those struggles.

And I have templates that I use with CorelDrawX4 (like WP, a Corel product).

It worries me. I am torn between upgrading to Win 10 and just sticking with Win 7. I had a third party VM on my Win 7 box for a while--I found it to be a PIA. Never could get it to print.