Help! How to get a word file back that I didn't save?

Question

I was writing something in Word and all of a sudden I got a warning and had to close the file. I wasn't able to save it. Any way of getting it back?

btw I don't have the newest version of Word if that matters.

Answer 1

Hi there.

Microsoft Office has an extensive AutoSave and Auto Recovery options that allow you to rescue your work in the event that it is lost due to a power failure, system crash or plain human error. However many people don't know how to use these features or that they even exist.

By default, the next time you reopen Word, it should prompt you that the last file you were working on did not close or terminate properly, would you want to open it? That time, you should be able to recover it. If you do not get that message, then you have to try the second option:

When a new file is started or an existing file is opened, a temporary file copy of that original file is created. This can be either in the windows temp directory, in "C:\ Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft". If the file is stored on a network drive then it will be temporarily created there.

This temporary file will have a few different letters after the tilde (or squiggly line “ ~”) . These are good ones to look for to find some lost info:

For Word, following file types should be searched for, where "xxxx" is a number.

A word document file will look like ~wrdxxxx.tmp
A temp document file will look like ~wrfxxxx.tmp
An auto recovery file will look like ~wraxxxx.tmp
An auto recovery file that is complete will have the extension of .wbk.

The default auto save time for word documents is 10 minutes. You can control this time in Options under the "Save" tab. The auto save files are placed in one of the following two locations, which is where you should look to recover the data.

Note: Common temp file pathnames ...

"C:\ Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Word".
"C:\ Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp"

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Do a search for the file by it's name and see if, by chance, it shows up. Word MAY have been set to auto-save, OR, it may have been set to create backups.

The backup file will have the same name as your file, but will have a "*.bak" extension.

If it's not in the recycle bin and these don't work, you might be able to do a search on the net for free programs that may be able to recover it for you.

Also, if you are using XP there's a chance that you can use System Restore to turn your computer back to recover the file. Sys. Rest. is located by, right-clicking My Computer and select Properties. It's one of the tabs....upper left I think.

If these ideas don't work, the file is gone......this is why I set autosave to 'save' every minute and to create backups.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

There are a pair of approaches to attempt this. a million) Open the rfile in note. click save As then replace the report form drop-down record to textual content report *.txt. The filename field will now be displaying the filename with .txt on the top. merely replace .txt to .bat and click save. Say certain to all messages about formatting etc 2) Open homestead windows Explorer from the courses record and click approaches then Folder concepts. click on the View tab and ascertain the cover extensions for time-honored report sorts selection is unchecked. Then click ok and navigate on your note rfile via homestead windows Explorer. accurate click the rfile and choose Re-call then merely replace the .rfile to .bat. click ok or certain to any caution messages.

Answer 4

I would check your temp directory. Look for files that starts with a ~.
These are all temp files your word will use. But if you are not lucky, you will not find it.

Answer 5

Look into you deleted folder/garbage can. Double-click on it and Restore your file

p.s. if you have not rebooted you pc you should be able to get it back

Answer 6

donot restart computer

use the search option in windows and look for .doc (dot doc)

Also you must set you computer to see all hidden files

Answer 7

sorry you cant get it back if you didnt save it.

Answer 8

you don't. sorry.