What's better then Word?

I've gotta problem :/.
Microsoft Word, as everyone knows, runs on a certain "key" that comes with your computer.
For re-installation purposes and I think it must be done even when you first get a new computer.
Anyway.
I've lost mine, more like, it was thrown away.
I've had to restart my computer, about a month ago i think.
Microsoft Word will you give you about a months time to go
on using it with the key.
Now it's not letting me do anything without the key.
I've got my newest story, many chapters of it, saved to Word.
Being able to preform no action but loading old files(this includes
not being able to copy-paste, or type, even backspace)
So i need another program.
One that doesn't require a key, and i can use forever.
I'll settle for anything really. As long as i can use it,
and it's not notepad(cause notepad is junk for writing)
then it should work.

Microsoft Works Word Processor? It's good, but it doesn't do dashes. You have to have either one little one (-) or two little ones (--) but they don't come together to make a nice big one.

Open Office? I haven't used it, but it's free, might be worth looking into.

RoughDraft!

There's this software that you can download from the internet...I have it. I don't know if this is what you want...but look at the site (Below) for more information on it.

here's the address: www.spacejock.com/yWriter4_Version.html

Open Office is a great alternative. You've also got google docs, and buzzword (which I really like).

Open Office is a suite of applications like Microsoft Office, and is the closest to Word. But, I like online word processors better just because it makes file sharing between computers easier.

I use Microsoft Works Word Processor, and I love it! Much better than Word.

OpenOffice might be the answer to all your prayers. Works isn't a bad program, but I know that my version won't open any .doc files (maybe it's an old one, I don't know) which is what all of your Word files will be saved in, unless you used Rich Text format or something instead. OpenOffice can open and save in .doc without any ill effects that I've come across, besides occasionally messing up double-spacing and paragraph indention (which, compared to the prospect of not being open a file at all, is not really all that bad). You can download it at http://OpenOffice.org. There's also AbiWord, which I used for my NaNo a couple years ago - that isn't a bad program, either.

Works is a plot by Microsoft to agitate you into buying Office. I suggest Open Office as well. It is a very good alternative.

what about the typical wordpad? it comes with all pc's i have Microsoft office 2007 and i barely use it, i use wordpad. (note pad only belongs in the toilet)

i have a few freeware programs I installed a couple of days ago there are great to use
1) Rough draft
2) q10
3)ywriter4

if you want a English dictionary and thesaurus there's TheSage



Heres the links to all 4:

1) http://www.salsbury.f2s.com/rd.htm
2) http://www.baara.com/q10/
3) http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter4_Download.html
4) http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/freewar ... saurus.htm


hope this helps,

-Ink

Thank you all for your help.
I've gotten all my chapters back and
i can begin posting them and writing
more on them.
Thanks much!