How do I open my old documents?

QDecades ago I had a PC with Windows 3.1 and an early version of Microsoft Word. I used this for personal correspondence. I’d forgotten about these documents until I came across a box of 3.5in discs in the loft. Curious, I bought a USB floppy drive for my laptop, and found lots of old documents. I use Libreoffice Writer now, which asked for a password. I tapped this in – but Writer opens every file as a blank document. I then downloaded a Microsoft tool called Word Viewer. When I try to open the documents in this it again asks for the password but then I get this error message: “This file type is blocked from opening in this version by your registry policy setting”. I don’t know what this means, and I’m stuck. Can you can help?

AIt’d be possible to clone your existing operating system drive on to a new PC’S hard drive, using a free tool like Hdclone 7 ( www.snipca.com/26640). However, Windows would detect the hardware changes and demand reactivation. That’s where you’ll come unstuck. You bought Windows 10 Pro pre-installed, with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) licence. Under Microsoft’s terms this is not transferable. You’ll find the full, interminable rules at www.snipca.com/26641, but the bottom line is that the company will deny any reactivation request.

But Windows 10 Pro actually costs £220 ( www.snipca.com/26642), not £349. This comes with a ‘retail’ licence that allows transfer of the operating system between computers. We suppose it’s possible that some retailer is simply charging an inflated premium for a PC with the Pro edition, but we’re not sure why that would be. You could, for instance, buy a PC with the Home edition pre-installed and then upgrade to Pro – Microsoft itself charges £120 for that. Just click the Start button followed by the Settings cog, then ‘Update & Security’ followed by Activation and then ‘Go to Store’ (see screenshot).