Microsoft Office?

My school expects all students to type their papers in MLA format, using Microsoft Word. It has to be double-spaced, be indented 1 inch on all sides, have a header with my last name and page number and a bunch of other things that you need Microsoft word to do. What the school doesn't realize, is that not all computers come with Microsoft word preinstalled, and Microsoft Office is a $150 program. (Also that not everyone has a computer) I tried writing a paper with open office word, but when I got to school and tried to open the .doc file so I could print it, microsoft word wouldn't let me open it. It said it was either in an unrecognized format or currupted. So lately I've been writing my papers in word pad, but word pad can't do a lot of the MLA formatting, so I've been only getting half credit. It's pretty stupid that my teachers won't let me write my papers by hand. I don't want to resort to piracy, so is there any free solution?

Microsoft Office?norton antivirus 2007

Provided that:

1.) You have a USB Flash drive, and

2.) Your school allows you to use them on their computers

You can download a portable version of OpenOffice at:

http://portableapps.com/apps/office/open...

If you don't want such a large download (70 MB), you can try AbiWord:

http://portableapps.com/apps/office/abiw...