neilsolaris

Yesterday I downloaded a word file from a yahoo email, and spent the whole day editing it. I saved it as I went along, but forgot to "save as". Since then, I have rebooted my computer, and I can't find the file.

I have typed part of the name of the file into search (start - search - search for files and folders), and it has not come up. I downloaded a program called "parelogic data recovery", which seems to have found the file, but won't let me continue until I register for around $50, which I'd rather not do.

I have also looked through the temporary internet files, but I haven't seen it in the list.

Am I correct in saying that if I download the file again from my yahoo mail, it will be the original version, not the saved one? I daren't download it again yet in case it overwrites the one I edited.

If anyone has any ideas how I can recover the file I'd be very grateful.

Many thanks.

macropod

Hi neilsolaris,

If the file isn't in Word's MRU list, try re-oping the email attachment, then using File|Save As (without saving) to see where Word wants to save it. Your original will probably be there or, if a temp folder was being used, in another such folder hanging off the same parent.

neilsolaris

Hi macropod,

Thanks for your suggestion, what an excellent idea.

When I click on save as, it wants to save it to a folder in the temporary internet files. The thing that baffled me, is why doesn't that file show up when I look through the temporary internet files, or when I do a search. Also, I'm only able to view the temporary internet files by clicking on file-tools-internet options etc. I cannot access the temporary files by navigating from "my computer", unless I'm missing something very obvious.

On doing a google search, the answer might have something to do with the fact I have different user names on my computer, but I haven't managed to pinpoint the problem exactly yet.

In the meantime, I spent most the day yesterday redoing the editing, remembering this time to save it to my documents!

Thanks for you help.

macropod

Hi neilsolaris,

The file might not be showing because:
. it's in a different temporary files folder, which is why I suggested you might need to look in other folders hanging off the same parent.
. it's been deleted when the temporary files folder was itself deleted. I'm not sure whether that happens if you've saved a file there.

As for accessing the folder, you might need to change your Windows Explorer settings, so that you can access hidden files & folders, and maybe system folders too.

Using different user-names only complicates things - the temporary files folder for each user will be in a different location, based on the folder tree created for each user.

neilsolaris

Hi macropod,

Thanks again for your help. I had set it to show hidden files, I don't know if the same applies to my system folders. How do I enable that?

After you're first message, after I clicked on save as, I could see exactly which folder it would have been saved in, and the sequence of folders necessary to navigate through to get there. However, when I reach the folder that the temporary internet folder should be, it isn't there. Any idea why that should be?

macropod

Hi neilsolaris,

That might be because the folder is created on the fly and, if you don't actually save anything there, it gets deleted. As I've said a couple of times, though, it would be worthwhile checking any other folders that might be hanging off the same parent folder.

The other Windows Explorer option I was thinking of is 'Hide protected operating system files'. On reflection, though, I doubt that'll help much.