Lost .doc file in WinXP, using Office 2007

[maziwanka]

I know I already posted this in Software for Windows, but I thought the extra traffic here might get me a quicker response . . .

I really need some help with this --

I opened a file last night through firefox (and I can't remember whether I saved it or opened it directly with Word). I worked on the document all night, and periodically hit CTRL+S to save the file (I was never prompted to enter a file name or choose a location for saving. I closed out of the document this morning, also without being prompted to re-save.

THEN, when I tried to send the document, I couldn't find it at all. I've been looking EVERYWHERE.

The word version is 2007 (or whatever the latest version is). This is really shitty and it was a work-critical file that would ABSOLUTELY SUCK if i had to type all over again.

any help on trying to find it would be supremely appreciated

----
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AnandTech Moderator Evadman

 

[rudeguy]

naughty naughty

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
naughty naughty

haha i just want a solution to this problem. i tried the 6 solutions MS gave (searching for temp files, .asd files, .wbk files, etc.). no luck

 

[HopJokey]

Do a search for the file based on it's contents.

 

[RKS]

in FF preferences, can't you look and see where your FF downloads are saved?

 

[Ramma2]

Open up Word 2007, and check the recent documents list?

 

[lokiju]

Office creates a different file extension for files that are being opened from something like email.

Figure out what that extension is for your version of office and then search the computer for it.

Make sure to search hidden locations also.

 

[BoomerD]

search for .docx?

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Office creates a different file extension for files that are being opened from something like email.

Figure out what that extension is for your version of office and then search the computer for it.

Make sure to search hidden locations also.

would this be somewhere in an options setting in office? i use the latest office (2007 i think) and the file was downloaded from gmail

i've definitely enabled searching in hidden folders.

to answer all other questions - i think i've already exhausted the basic searches

 

[rivan]

Search for files modified within the last X hours?

 

[biggestmuff]

Windows key + F

*.*

Have fun!

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Windows key + F

*.*

Have fun!

Why not just tell him to Windows + U U?

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Windows key + F

*.*

Have fun!

Why not just tell him to Windows + U U?

haha. yes. i'll try not to fall for this

ill also try searching for modded files though.

the strange thing with all this is that the file seems to have literally disappeared. wtf

 

[rudeguy]

Have you opened up Word to see what the default directory is? You could search for *.doc.

 

[Pegun]

When you directly open anything from firefox it goes to one of the temp folders. There are usually multiple folders in the temp folder so you would have to review all of them and make sure that firefox is not set to delete temporary files on close.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Pegun
When you directly open anything from firefox it goes to one of the temp folders. There are usually multiple folders in the temp folder so you would have to review all of them and make sure that firefox is not set to delete temporary files on close.

If he was working in Word, wouldn't it save to Word's default directory?

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: maziwanka

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Windows key + F

*.*

Have fun!

Why not just tell him to Windows + U U?

haha. yes. i'll try not to fall for this

ill also try searching for modded files though.

the strange thing with all this is that the file seems to have literally disappeared. wtf

doubt it disappeared, you probably just do not know where it saved to

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: Pegun
When you directly open anything from firefox it goes to one of the temp folders. There are usually multiple folders in the temp folder so you would have to review all of them and make sure that firefox is not set to delete temporary files on close.

If he was working in Word, wouldn't it save to Word's default directory?

In gmail, you have the option to open a word file as HTML or to Download it.

If you click Download, the save file dialog box pops up. If you click Open from here, I assume it would go to the FF temp directory somewhere and Word would open it from there.

OP, if it went to temp and you clear your temp directories, you may be out of luck. What I would try doing is opening the file again in Word, then doing a Local Save As to see what directory the file gets defaulted to be saved in. That may give you a clue as to where the temp directory is.

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: Pegun
When you directly open anything from firefox it goes to one of the temp folders. There are usually multiple folders in the temp folder so you would have to review all of them and make sure that firefox is not set to delete temporary files on close.

If he was working in Word, wouldn't it save to Word's default directory?

No. It will save to the location the file was opened from. If it was from the web then it would be housed in a temp folder.

OP, have you checked your recent documents list in word? That would be the easiest place to find it. If not the search for *.doc or *.docx files modified in the last 24 hours. That the best you can do.

Also, remember that the file name will be something crazy like WM$9314197.doc or something like that.

 

[AntiFreze]

C:\documents and settings\[profile]\local settings\temp (hidden folder). Sort by date modified and you should find it.

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: abaez

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: Pegun
When you directly open anything from firefox it goes to one of the temp folders. There are usually multiple folders in the temp folder so you would have to review all of them and make sure that firefox is not set to delete temporary files on close.

If he was working in Word, wouldn't it save to Word's default directory?

In gmail, you have the option to open a word file as HTML or to Download it.

If you click Download, the save file dialog box pops up. If you click Open from here, I assume it would go to the FF temp directory somewhere and Word would open it from there.

OP, if it went to temp and you clear your temp directories, you may be out of luck. What I would try doing is opening the file again in Word, then doing a Local Save As to see what directory the file gets defaulted to be saved in. That may give you a clue as to where the temp directory is.

Good call! Check this first!

 

[Aharami]

have you tried recreating your steps?
try reopening that (or some other word file via gmail/ffx/word. when file opens up in word, try doing a "save as" to see where it is being saved to. look in that folder to see if your previous file is there
good luck man!

 

[maziwanka]

thanks for all the suggestions and help guys. much appreciated. ill keep trying to do what i can

 

[dullard]

When Word opens something from the internet, it creates a temporary folder and saves the file in that folder. Then, when you close the document, it deletes the temporary folder along with your document. And it is a crazy folder with random numbers and letters - nothing that you'd ever recognize.

You can hit the save button until you are blue in the face, but that file will still be deleted. Unless you have hit the "Save As" button and chosen a different folder, it'll be gone. I've heard this sob story a dozen times from coworkers and collegues.

My best advice is to stop using that drive (or your whole computer if that is your sole drive). Stop using it to prevent writing over any deleted files on the disk. Then, on a flash drive install a utility to find and recover deleted files. There are hundreds of free ones you can download from places like CNET. The flash drive is used so you download and install it on a place that won't overwrite your deleted file. Then run that utility to undelete your file.

Next time, NEVER EVER work on a document from the internet (especially from an email program) without first saving it to your own folder. It is best just to Save the file and open it manually. Clicking the Open button from internet programs is just begging for you to do this again.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
thanks for all the suggestions and help guys. much appreciated. ill keep trying to do what i can

Next time you will have to choose between an automatic box flame, or somehow working waffles into your thread title.

This is your first and last warning.