Converting MS Word to .pdf
In Word, select Print... from the File dropdown menu, and select a COLOUR postscript printer, e.g. peacock.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the checkbox for "print to file" is ticked on the dialog box, and click OK.
Another dialog box will pop up. Choose where to save the file on your N: drive, and save as file type "all files" NOT ".prn files" as it suggests. Give the file a name, and make sure you end it with ".ps" e.g. "myfile.ps" (so you overwrite the .prn it suggests).
Click OK. Now you have a postscript file which you can convert to .pdf.
Now login to Unix (via CygwinX or PuTTy), go to your Unix directory where "myfile.ps" is and type the command: ps2pdf myfile.ps using the filename you gave it instead of myfile.ps, as necessary.
You will now have a .pdf file which you may wish to check it's ok by looking at it in Acrobat Reader.
For more information about other conversions, please see Converting from one file type to another.