Why Should I Upgrade?

This is how on Windows 7/8/10 .. XP is similar
From this link: <a href="https://www.thewindowsclub.com/increase-page-file-size-virtual-memory-windows">https://www.thewindowsclub.com/increase-page-file-size-virtual-memory-windows</a>

How to increase Page File size or Virtual Memory in Windows 10/8/7

If you get a message Your system is low on virtual memory, when you try to start any memory intensive application, like Microsoft Office, Corel, etc, then you want to consider the option to increase Page File on Windows 10/8/7.

In case you get such an error message, you may have to increase the size of your virtual memory or page file or paging file – although for most uses, leaving the Page File size at its default value should be good enough.

To do so in Windows 10/8/7, follow these steps:

Right click on Computer and open Properties.
Select Advanced System Properties
Click Advanced tab
Under Performance, click Settings
Under Performance Options, click Advanced tab
Here under Virtual memory pane, select Change
Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
Highlight your system drive
Select Custom size
Change the Initial size value and the Maximum size value to a higher value
Click Set
Finally Click Apply/OK all the way.

Hi Bruce -- thanks so much for your generosity in proposing some solutions to my problem. I already use 64-bit programs for Word and everything else, and I already break up large files into smaller ones (chapters), but these smaller ones are apparently still considered too "large" by Word (anything over 25 pages or so), so they crash after a certain number of revisions and continue to do so unless I reboot the computer. As I mentioned in my comment, I've reverted to Word 2010, since Word 2013 seems to crash just as often as 2010 (I'd hoped it would not be as frequent).

I'm intrigued with your suggestion of changing the size of the Page File in my computer. I once read about it for an early version of Word (before .docx files), but didn't feel safe trying it for Word 2010 or 2013. Can you tell me more about how to do that? I'd be so appreciative!

Catherine,

Re the issues you have with Word.

1): You can easily upgrade your computer for more RAM very cheaply.

2): Just because your computer has 16GB RAM does not mean much.

You need to be running a 64 Bit Operating System to use all of it.

3): You really should be using the 64 Bit version of MS Office as it will
then be able to use the extra computer RAM

4): You can increase the size of your Page File on the computer.

5): You can tell Word not to auto save changes as often.

Some of these may help with your issue. Worst case is you may need
to split the document into sections to work on it properly. Also see this
link for more information, as others have the same issue. You may want ]
to revert to Office 2010 version, as it seems later ones have an issue.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_365hp-word/office-word-crashes-with-large-documents/18beb6ca-e563-4ccf-b8f6-faf5a3057479

For all the reasons mentioned, I held off migrating from Windows/Office 2007 to 365. I thought the learning curve you mention as being too greater a step at my age (72) and for what? However, as an editor/proof-reader of many years standing, who started out back in the early 1980s, I read all the bumf and comments from many users and decided with some trepidation to take the plunge. To my relief, the computer handled the upgrade without intervention from me other than to press a few keys as required.

I've now been using 365 for 12-months now and it's the best thing I've done. My work is saved to the cloud, I can share the copy with clients'. I can dictate and playback my work on speaker. I can also research at the touch of a button without leaving WORD. As for EXCEL, ACCESS and PUBLISHER, which I occasionally use, the learning curve for me is still steep! However, WORD 365 is the best version ever. All software is updated regularly with enhanced or new features.
Can't say much more, other than the leap of faith, well for me anyhow, was worth it.

Thanks for this useful discussion of reasons to consider for whether or not to upgrade to a more recent version of Word.

What about the increased size of new versions of Word? I purchased an upgrade to Word (from 2010 to 2013) because large documents in the prior version kept crashing if I made a lot of revisions (and, as an editor, I make a lot of them!). However, I didn't find it was much more stable than the prior version. I also found the new ribbon and location of functions to be quite different and didn't feel inclined to go through the steep learning curve you mentioned. However, the main reason I went back to Word 2010 was that I read that Word 2013 program is much, much larger than the prior one, meaning it takes up more memory on my computer and has many more components that may slow things down -- or even crash due to the amount of memory it consumes.

I read in another post of yours that you say you don't have the problem of Word crashing with large documents, but it has always happened to me, no matter what version I use, not merely because of the size of the file but the high number of revisions made (especially if Tracked Changes is turned on). I have plenty of memory in my computer (16GB), but I've been told that, as one works on a Word document, each revision or save spits out random registries and information that start clogging up the works, like a clogged drainpipe, until nothing further can go through and Word crashes. Restarting Word doesn't work; I have to shut down every open program and reboot the computer.

What do you think about these points? Thanks for any light you can shed on them.

I tend to agree. Do not upgrade Office unless you absolutely must do so. Microsoft screwed up badly when it
introduced the "ribbon" making things much harder to find and use. And the Font Colors are horrendous, as
they are not as vivid in preribbon versions of Office .. The only reason to upgrade Office is if you use Outlook
for your Email Client .. Some ISP's will not allow Outlook to work if the version is too old due to so called
"security concerns" .. But there are plenty of free Email Clients you can get out there as well.