I need new windows xl and ms office software.....What do I need and where do I buy it from?

[MinkyBorage]

I don't really know what I'm doing, but I was set up on a temporary bit of software which has now run out, and I think I need to get a new code for it, so I assume that buying a box of the software is the only way of doing this??

Also, I don't really know exactly what I need to buy, I just want to to get exactly the same as I have already got. Is there somewhere I can find out exactly what it is I already have.

I'd be really grateful for any help, so please take pity on a technological novice and save me the humiliation of having to ask my brother for more help!!!

Huge heartfelt thanks in advance!

I'm not a techno whizz either but I recently bought a laptop with a trial ms office program installed. When it ran out I bought the home and student version which cost about £60. This is not the full version which is much more expensive but has word, powerpoint, one note and excel. I got it from Staples because ds works there and he got 10% discount!
It came in a box with a disc and code and you are able to legally install it on up to 3 pcs I think. I didn't install it but ds assures me it's easy.
You can also buy it online but I think that way you don't get a disc they just send you the code. When my trial package was about to run out I kept getting a message when ever I opened ms office asking me if I wanted to buy it. I didn't go this route because dh and dd wanted it for their pcs so bought the disc.
HTH as I said I'm not really much of a computer expert!

thanks kiddiz, good point about buying the cd rather than just getting the code online.

I really want to replace it with exactly the same package I have at the moment which now I've had a proper look I think might be microsoft outlook, but I just don't know what it is. Surely there's somewhere I can look on my computer to find out exactly what it is. Grrr, I wish I knew what I was doing.

Help->About will normally give you a lot if information about what exactly you're running.

The package that includes outlook is the standard version not the home and student one. The 2007 edition is £275+ . I'm guessing you probably do have 2007 if you've recently had the trial. A word of caution the different editions...i.e. 2000,2003,2007 do vary a bit although it is possible to work it out. The college I'm at uses 2003 where as I have 2007. In word, for example, the toolbars are quite different but you do get used to it.

www.compareoffice2007.co.uk/ Try this website it lists the different office packages and lets you compare prices. You should be able to work out which package you have from it. (I hope!!) Sorry can't do links ...did tell you I was a computer idiot!!