I think you are lucky if Finale 2000 worked under Win 7. I suspect updating the Finale 2000 programs to Finale v25 will have some issues, since (particularly in Finale 2012) some major changes to expressions and instrument assignments have been made since then.

That being the case, I strongly urge you to make PDF printouts (using a 3rd-party PDF printer, some of which are available free) from F 2000 as a backup. If Dolet has an XML plug-in that will work with F 2000, I would export your files using that option as well; at present I am having difficulty finding out whether a version of Dolet exists for F 2000. The important thing is to use whatever method you can to back up the files before you move to Finale v25. At least if you have PDF's you can use them to proof the v25 results if you want to whip them back into shape.

I hope when I am 85 I am still working with music as you father is.

Thanks J. Adrian,

I hope you're working with music at 85 also.

Ciao,

Chappy.

Hmmmmm... After you upgrade, Finale 25 should open F2000 files. But... you will have to go to a 64bit version of Win before 25 will run—this will require a complete backup, reinstall and restore.

Opening your old files will be among the least of your headaches. You may have to go through a few steps but it can be done.