CAN ANYBODY HELP ME?

Please don’t misunderstand my cries of misunderstanding. I bought my first computer in 1997 and I’ve used them long before I ever bought one. I used to understand how they worked pretty well. I could program in Fortran IV and Expanded Basic. I even programmed in machine language in 1981 on an Intel SBC (single board computer) the processor was an 8080A and I could blast programs with a UV blaster. I considered myself a “Computer stud”, but that was in bygone times.

I kept up to date with all computer advances and I was still “King of The Hill”. I learned the language of PLC’s (programmable logic controllers) specialized computers for industrial applications. They are very fine for real time automation control. I modernized at least 25 processes using my newfound knowledge.  This was furnace control, slitting lines, leveling lines, and casting control, ect, ect. This brought a huge boost in productivity to these processes!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few short years later and I’m lost like a sailor who lost all his charts and his compass!!!!!! I’m becoming clueless!!! I mostly use pre-installed applications now a days and I still thought I was a stud, but last week I got my comeuppance. I was running my Norton Security Suite and it advised me to uninstall my unused applications. I did as I was advised and uninstalled my Corel Wordperfect. I never used it anyway since I use Microsoft Word, but once done all my Microsoft Word documents had been changed to WordPad. Why would uninstalling Corel Wordperfect have anything to do with Microsoft Word document format???????

Please help me I’m lost in a world that has passed me by technologically!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody please give me answers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m begging and pleading!!!!!!!!!!!