What is Microsoft 365 doing invading my computer?

[LaTrucha]

I have a latop that is two or three years old, and I use Microsoft Office and Publisher both in the 2010 version. I have often found an kind of invitation to a 'trial' coming up on the screen, but I just ignore it. Now, it seems to be gradually going through my computer and converting files I've already made or used with my 2010 version. The icons of these fies turn into a little orange square and when I try to open them it opens a window asking if I want a trial, to buy or if I have already bought, and I can't open the file.

I think I may have used it in the past as I wanted it temporarily to open an excel file which I don't have on my computer, but now it is taking over everything. What is it doing and what should I do? Please!

No?

If you've accidentally signed up to a free trial, have you tried deactivating it as per the instructions here?

It sounds as if you have a similar problem to the OP on this thread - the link Naoko posted on that thread explains how to change the file associations, which may sort your problem - it sounds like your computer thinks it's been told to open all Office documents with 365 and you need to tell it to use 2010.

Or OpenOffice or LibreOffice, which are (a) free and (b) well-behaved (even in Windoze).

Gosh thanks very much. The link to the other thread - and the link to the external site there - worked very easily. Phew.

chateauferret - So you can use those instead of microsoft, is that right? That is tempting. Are there any problems converting?