Excel lost in a reinstall. How to get it back?

[JohnConn]

My XP-home edition computer crashed (hard). I ended up resorting to the
reinstallation CD which came with my computer. I lost EVERYTHING except that
which had been saved to disc or emailed to my work. I have reinstalled all
my programs except Excel. I can't find it on any of the discs provided when
I got my computer. I found Word in the Works Suite, but no Excel. Am I SOL
here? Do I have to go purchase the program, or have I missed something very
basic?

 

[Alan]

Excel usually comes on the Office suite of programs but I think you can buy
it separately. If Excel came pre-installed on the machine then one of the
reinstallation discs should put it back, but not necessarily so. The Works
suite doesn't contain Excel.
If you get back to the dealer you bought the machine from they can probably
help, and I think Microsoft will help if you can provide proof of purchase,
Regards,
Alan.