Question I have MS Publisher 2002 for my Autistic son

[Hasselblad]

Since installing windows 11 it crashes

YEP I have run the usual non compatibility checks, no luck

ANY help much appreciated.

Thank you

 

[cruisetung]

Why the upgrade ? Can't you keep old machine/OS?
Searched the internet and I believe it just won't run.

You can run it in a old OS VM or maybe try Linux WINE?
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=663

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI09QLkqZiE

however for Windows VM you still need a license for the Windows OS

Or ask him to learn free alternative like Scribus

Scribus - Browse /scribus at SourceForge.net

Powerful desktop publishing software

sourceforge.net

 

[logainofhades]

Since installing windows 11 it crashes

YEP I have run the usual non compatibility checks, no luck

ANY help much appreciated.

Thank you

Did you try forcing compatibility to an older OS version? I never use the actual troubleshooter.

 

[Nice Nicer]

ANY help much appreciated.

Please explain, what you have tried so far except checking for compatibility .This software from 2002 is out of date. I´m not an expert, but why would your son want to use that? I don´t understand why you mention that he´s autistic neither.
If he likes using it, he would probaly like similar software as well. Have you suggested any alternatives to him yet?

 

[Nice Nicer]

A quote from microsoft.com

System Requirements

To use Microsoft Publisher 2002, users need the following:

• PC with Pentium 133 MHz or higher processor; Pentium III recommended
• Microsoft Windows® 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT® 4.0 with Service Pack 6 or later, or Windows 2000 Professional or later operating system
• For running Publisher with Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition, 32 MB of RAM; for running Publisher with Windows ME or Windows NT, 40 MB of RAM; for running Publisher with Windows 2000, 72 MB of RAM
• 180 MB of available hard disk space; additional hard disk space required for installation of the additional Media Content CD
• CD-ROM drive
• Super VGA (800×600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors
• Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse®
  or compatible pointing device

The highlighted part indicates that it only works with a 32 bit operating system.
That means it will not work with Windows 11!

 

[logainofhades]

Win 11 can run 32 bit software, but compatibility mode doesn't go back any further than Vista. That's probably the issue at hand here.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

20+ year old 32-bit software on a modern system is always going to be a very hit/miss proposition. Either ditch that old software or use an era appropriate system.

 

[Hasselblad]

Did you try forcing compatibility to an older OS version? I never use the actual troubleshooter.

Yep, nothing

 

[Hasselblad]

20+ year old 32-bit software on a modern system is always going to be a very hit/miss proposition. Either ditch that old software or use an era appropriate system.

Tell that to someone with Autism who knows nothing else

 

[Hasselblad]

Please explain, what you have tried so far except checking for compatibility .This software from 2002 is out of date. I´m not an expert, but why would your son want to use that? I don´t understand why you mention that he´s autistic neither.
If he likes using it, he would probaly like similar software as well. Have you suggested any alternatives to him yet?

Because being Autistic a person is used to "things" and does things in a specific way and having used this for 20 years his "autism" wants to keep using it ,also he has YEARS of .PUB files

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Tell that to someone with Autism who knows nothing else

I seem to have just did. It still doesn't invalidate the fact that you are trying to run seriously outdated software on a more recent OS. You are in need of either an upgrade to the software, or an era appropriate (20 or so years old) system upon which to run it. Wishing things were different won't change that.

 

[cruisetung]

You will be blocked mentioning / linking illegal sources.

And an OS CD will not contain any software you talked about.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You will be blocked mentioning / linking illegal sources.

And an OS CD will not contain any software you talked about.

Absolutely. @Hasselblad, do not attempt to post anything like that again or you will find that your posting privileges will be cut off. Piracy is not something we condone here.

 

[cruisetung]

Other ways to cope with retired MS Publisher.

MS Publisher EOL - After Oct 2026 what alternative software can open .pub files?

We have Microsoft Publisher installed on all of our Staff and Student computers. We are a Cyber Secure Essentials accredited MAT and to remain so all installed software must be supported by the manufacture with updates etc. so as of October 2026 we will have to stop using MS Publisher. We're prep...

www.edugeek.net

 

[COLGeek]

Because being Autistic a person is used to "things" and does things in a specific way and having used this for 20 years his "autism" wants to keep using it ,also he has YEARS of .PUB files

Aside from wanting to keep what your son is used to, how often is he opening (and why?) these old .PUB files? The link just above this post has a solution, but it is NOT Publisher 2002.

 

[Nice Nicer]

Win 11 can run 32 bit software, but compatibility mode doesn't go back any further than Vista. That's probably the issue at hand here.

Backwards compatibility in one direction, is "upwards compatibility" in the other direction. It´s just too old, i guess.
Jeskola Buzz for example is 32 bit software and runs well without any issues on my system.
There probably has to be a larger group of people, that maintains software to keep it runing on newer systems.
That software version from 2002 is so old, that there is numerous newer versions of it. So almost nobody uses it anymore.

btw, i respect your decision to preserve your son`s habit. But it´s difficult to understand. It seems as if his decision to keep using this software is based on already using it. The cat bites it´s own tail. Autism is quite a large spectrum. You probably know, wether or not he could just use some other software. Else you wouldn´t ask.

 

[USAFRet]

Tell that to someone with Autism who knows nothing else

IF he/you can manage the switch to Win 11, I suspect a version change of Office will be OK as well.

The difference between Office 2002 and current is MUCH less than the difference between whichever OS you were using in 2002 and Win 11.

 

[Hasselblad]

Who suggested "Scribus" THANK YOU yes THANK YOU

IT opens most of the old publisher files, OK not perfectly but 75% of it enough to save and work on in this program, thanks again, it is great

 

[cruisetung]

Just installed Scribus myself and found it supports so many file formats, unbelievable!