MS Office 2016 VS 2003

Hi, it's me the perpetual computer rookie. I have several issues I could use your help with.

1 - I have MS office 2016 and 2003 on my computer. The 2016 is too cumbersome for my taste. My computer defaults to 2016 every time I open a file session of Word or Excel. I want to know if I delete the 2016 version, will the 2003 office automatically take over.
I have both discs for the 2003 and 2016 so I can reinstall one if in the future if I want.
Part 1.1 - If I delete the 2016 will that affect my Gmail viewing screen.

2 - Every so often when I open my computer in the morning, the session icons on my desk top that I left the night before are gone/closed. I am thinking that MS is sending updates over night and causing the icons to disappear. Is that a possibility?
My Dell Inspiron computer is running window 7.

 

Sorry to respond so late. When you say I need to repair 2003. Why and what is needed to do? I am like a car owner. I can drive it but am not good at tuning it up! LOL As for Gmail, can't I just uninstall the rest of the 2016 programs and leave the 2016 Outlook? The icons I spoke of are shortcuts to excel programs I have on my desktop. Thanks,

 

I read your suggestion but I think I will take my computer to my paid Geek Squad and have them do an update and cleaning. I will ask them about the missing shortcuts. What do you think about my "uninstall the rest of the 2016 programs and leave the 2016 Outlook?" suggestion?

 

Hmm! Maybe leave 2016 Word and uninstall the rest??? Sorry to be so picky.

 

I don't like the fact that the 2016 version is cluttered at the top with a lot features and spots that I have to click on to use where I used to simply right click, especially on Word. On Word, just to save the document I have to go to "FILE" first and then click on save. It also take longer to load. I guess I just don't like change. It worked fine for me before.

 

Hmmm. Ribbon bars are new to me. Who knew! I just found them thanks to you. Maybe I will try out the 2016 for a while and experiment. I just typed on the 2016 Word and "paragraph?" emblem shows up at the end of the sentence. How do I keep that from being there?

 

Thanks!

 

When I installed Office 2016, I wasn't given the option to install just one or two components. It was all or nothing.

 

Hmm. A while ago I uninstalled "One Note" because it kept coming up when I wanted to print to my printer. Tonight I see it is back on my program list! I wonder if the MS 2016 updates puts it back on my computer. Not nice. I would think I can uninstall one of the programs without touching the others.