How to restore old computer

The photo download program was easy and intuitive, when I plugged my camera in with the usb cord, the program immediately came up. From there it only prompted you to download all or some of the pictures. There were some other options too, but the the most important were the prompts to store them and where- it was very easy. The program I have in our desk computer is it's hard to even access the download procedure- the computer never recognizes the camera and doesn't give a list of probables to choose from...I could go on and I'm definitely not a geek, but that's just the point...with XP I didn't have to be. No, I don't have the original disk, the machine came with the OS already downloaded, and no other software. It had Word and other programs on it too which I really liked. When we bought this new thing, I just assumed Word would be there too- it wasn't. That means that any document I create, I have to do it and do any final editing and any subsequent editing on another older laptop with the program on it. I then have to take the file and email to myself if I want to access it on our desk computer. I couldn't even print it...I finally had to email the document to my daughter's Apple so she could do it. These work-arounds drive me crazy. I think all these machines and programs were designed by the geeks we all made fun of in high school...they're getting back at us now.