Numbering Function in Word Office 97

[WorkerB]

Microsoft Office 97 Professional.
On my previous laptops whenever I typed:
1. (1 period TAB) I would enter text and hit enter. Automatically a:
2. would be entered.
Now I have a new HP 64 bit laptop running Windows 7 and I am running the same software, Office 97.
When I type a 1. + TAB enter text and hit return the 2. and TAB does not happen automatically as it did on previous laptops.
If I select the numbering icon in the toolbar above the numbering function works as advertised.
My question is how to I get Word to be automatically intuitive as it was before when I was using the same software on my previous laptops that ran Win 98, Win XP and Windows Vista?
Thanks in advance,
WB