How do i recover a document saved directly from download?

Anonymous
2010-04-22T22:35:08+00:00

Hi,

I sent my university coursework to a friend to proof read it. He sent it back with amendments, and i clicked on the attached file in hotmail, and continued working on it, clicking save every few minutes.

However i did not click SAVE AS, and so when i closed the document just now, my entire days work was lost, as it appears to have saved no where. Where had it been saving for the whole day? Can i recover it?

Im currently on windows vista and word 2007.

Thanks

John

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2010-04-22T23:59:43+00:00

You may or may not be able to recover this document since the changes are saved in your Temporary Internet files folder. Note that you can't just open your Temporary Internet Files folder directly and find it due to the way Windows handles your Temporary Internet files but if it's still available, here's how you can get it back:

  1. Open another Word document sent to you as an attachment from an email. If you don't have one, send an email with an

attachment to yourself. (While you should be able to open the same email attachement since another copy of the file is created in your Temporary Internet Files folder, I don't like taking a chance like that.) 2. Click the Office Button, point at Prepare, and then click Properties. The Properties pane will display below the Ribbon. 3. On the far right of the Properties pane you'll see a file path and the document name. Select only the file path and press Ctrl + C to copy it. 4. Press the WinKey + E to open the Windows Explorer. (Or use an alternate method to open it) 5. Paste the copied file path in the Address bar and press Enter.

These steps should put you either in the same location as your revised file or near it. You may need to dig around in other folders to locate it.

Good luck and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. :-)

~Beth Melton Microsoft Office MVP

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2010-05-10T22:34:19+00:00

    In Word 2003, after opening a document by clicking on the attachment to an email message, select Properties from the File menu and go to the General tab and copy the path (without the filename) that is shown to the right of Location:

    Then proceed with steps 4 and 5 of the original instructions provided by Beth.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-10T22:29:03+00:00

    For Word 2003, open another file as an email attachment (or per my previous instructions, send a file to yourself if you need to) and then click File/Save As. This should put you in the Temporary Internet Files folder either at or near the right location. You can try searching in the Save As dialog box, and if the file is found, copy and save it to your Desktop or:

    1. Make a note of the current folder
    2. Click the Up one Level button at the top of the Save As dialog box
    3. Right-click the previously noted folder and then click Explore to open the Windows Explorer to that location
    4. Cancel the Save As dialog box

    Good luck! :-)

    ~Beth Melton Microsoft Office MVP

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-05-10T20:53:19+00:00

    are you able to help on this one? i was in the process of putting the finishing touches to my best man speech which is on saturday, i'm devastated!! :(

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-05-10T20:39:03+00:00

    Hi Beth,

    sorry forgot to say its 2003.

    Jamie

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