[Solved] Download space question

[Penlady]

I have had an old version of only "writer" on my old computer for ages. But today i got a new Windows laptop and started reading to see if I could just download writer again. I See that I can't. During the download process, can I click some of the program that I don't need? I ask because the files seems so large that it would take up all of my 512 MB! Instructions on OO website says

"Free memory of 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
At least 650 MB available disk space for a default install via download. After installation and deletion of temporary installation files, Apache OpenOffice will use approximately 440 MB disk space."

If I only have 512 MB, how can I have 650 MB available? If the end product is 440 MB, that would take up 3/4 of my hard drive, wouldn't it? Forgive my naivete. Obviously I don't know a lot about computers and RAM and MB, etc.
Explain it like I'm an old lady, which I am.
Thanks!

[keme]

Unless your computer is very old (30+ years) or very "special purpose", your disk storage is probably 512 gigabytes, not 512 megabytes. A gigabyte is roughly 1000 megabytes. This means that you most likely have ample space available.

I still see some computers where the amount of available space is in the megabytes range. If that is the case for your disk, you'd probably benefit from removing unnecessary elements. Post back if such is the case.

Unlike many other Office suites, the "StarOffice descendants" like NeoOffice, OpenOffice and LibreOffice are "monolithic". This means that the different applications share much of the core programming, which allows for a smaller storage footprint, but you can no longer select single applications for install. They are one, as it were. In the installation procedure you may be able to select "advanced" install and only activate the application(s) you want. This does not save any significant amount of storage space, but it may give you a "cleaner" experience (you don't see the applications you don't need).

It is also worth noting that other major word processing applications - Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect - require about 3 times as much storage space as the full OpenOffice suite.

[RoryOF]

I agree with keme; almost certainly you have Gigabytes, not Megabytes.

[floris v]

A really new laptop would have Windows 11 on it, not Windows 7, which doesn't even get security updates anymore. If you have Windows 11, you should be able to get OpenOffice from the Microsoft Store.

[LastUnicorn]

If you have a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system (not Windows 7) then you might be better of installing LibreOffice instead of OpenOffice. There are several good reasons for making the switch anyway, some of which are mentioned here: [Tutorial] Considering a Switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice? Some Useful Information

To see what version of Windows you have use 'Winver' which is explained here: How to Check the Windows Version in Windows 11 and 10

[Penlady]

Kene said:
Unless your computer is very old (30+ years) or very "special purpose", your disk storage is probably 512 gigabytes, not 512 megabytes. A gigabyte is roughly 1000 megabytes. This means that you most likely have ample space available.

It is also worth noting that other major word processing applications - Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect - require about 3 times as much storage space as the full OpenOffice suite.
[/quote]

Kene thank you for both of these bits of information. Now I can proceed the download with peace of mind!
Penlady

[Penlady]

If you have a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system (not Windows 7) then you might be better of installing LibreOffice instead of OpenOffice. There are several good reasons for making the switch anyway, some of which are mentioned here: [Tutorial] Considering a Switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice? Some Useful Information

To see what version of Windows you have use 'Winver' which is explained here: How to Check the Windows Version in Windows 11 and 10

[MrProgrammer]

I have had an old version of only "writer" on my old computer for ages. But today i got a new Windows laptop and started reading to see if I could just download writer again.

If your old computer could run OpenOffice (Writer), your new computer certainly can. Your new computer will have more resources that your old machine did.

"Free memory of 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
At least 650 MB available disk space for a default install via download. After installation and deletion of temporary installation files, Apache OpenOffice will use approximately 440 MB disk space."

Computers have different types of storage. RAM and disk space are two different things. The 256 MB RAM recommendation is completely unrelated to the 650 MB available disk space recommendation. If this information is confusing, just ignore it. All recent computers have far more of all types of storage than OpenOffice needs. Just download OpenOffice and install it. It will only use a tiny amount of your computer's resources.

If I only have 512 MB, how can I have 650 MB available? Obviously I don't know a lot about computers and RAM and MB, etc. Explain it like I'm an old lady, which I am.
Thanks!

Old lady summary: I am sure you have misunderstood the specifications for your new computer. No recent computer would have 512 MB of disk space. With modern computers these details are no longer important, and you can ignore them. Install OpenOffice and it will run just fine.

If this solved your problem please go to your first post use the Edit ✏️ button and add [Solved] to the start of the Subject field. Select the green checkmark icon at the same time.

[Penlady]

Thank you to everyone!

[Penlady]

If you have a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system (not Windows 7) then you might be better of installing LibreOffice instead of OpenOffice.

I am reading that it takes between 9 and 20 hours to download LibreOffice! Is there any way to make it faster? That's ridiculous! I see an option to use it only online, in a program called "rollApp" on the cloud, but then your documents are not completely private anymore. Cloud files are often hacked. And who knows how safe "rollApp" is?

[RoryOF]

The download speed depends on the speed of one's internet connection.; not knowing yours, I cannot say, but I would not expect it to take longer than 10 or 20 minutes or even faster, with modern internet connections.

[Penlady]

THANK YOU!!

[LastUnicorn]

If you do want to download LibreOffice then only download from here: Download LibreOffice

I would recommend that you download the 24.8.4 version.

[Penlady]

Shoot. I downloaded the 25.2, but got it from that website. Should I delete this version and download 24.8.4 instead? Thanks for all your help!

[LastUnicorn]

I just updated to 25.2.0 myself and found that there is a bug that newbies to LibreOffice might find confusing to sort out. On that basis, at this point in time, I would say best to download and install 24.8.4.

The bug I'm thinking of in 25.2.0 has been marked to be fixed in 25.2.1 so download of 25.2 at about level 25.2.3 or 25.2.4 should work out fine for you — but that is for the future.

For others that might be interested the bug concerns Text Boundaries and the report and solution to it can be seen here: Text Boundaries Not Shown in Writer (and other boundary problems)

[Penlady]

Thank you. I will uninstall mine and re-install 24.8.4