Microsoft word 2002 Autorecover question

I have been working on a term paper for a few weeks. I was probably 75% done with it about 9 days ago, when I saved my work and took a few days rest before the final push. Then, last friday, I finished everything except for the bibliography. However, somehow, I made the mistake of not saving my work. My computer was having some problems and froze, so i ended up having to reboot without properly exiting word. Then, next time I opened word, the document was in the autorecover box. I was sure I had already saved the doc, so I never did anything with the recovered file. Then, when I closed Word again, I was asked if I wanted to save the recovered file or delete it. Not thinking, I said don't save. Then, when I opened the file that I though was the completed draft, "Term paper - edited draft.doc", I discovered that it was the 75% finished copy. Suddenly, I realized my errors, so I looked in the recycling bin to see if there were any temp files that might be my recovered document. It was there. I think it was somewhere around 60 KB, and was named something like "autorecover term paper - edited draft.asd". I can't remember exactly what it was called. I sighed with relief, glanced at the original location, and then restored the file. However, stupid me, I never wrote the file path down and read it wrong or something, because I couldnt find the folder it was supposed to be in. I did searches for things like ".asd", "edited", and "term paper", and nothing ever came up.

Does anyone have any idea if I can recover my essay? I can't believe I wasn't saving it as I went along. Thats the first rule of writing papers! It's not due for a few days yet, but this paper was so tedious that I don't want have to spend another minute on it. Plus, I still have 2 other huge papers to finish by the end of the week.

 

Try a search by date modified, should narrow it down.

This might help:

Microsoft Word 2002 or Microsoft Office Word 2003
a. Start Word.
b. On the File menu, click Open.
c. Point to the arrow in the Files of type box, click All Files *.*, select the file, and then click Open.
If there is no .wbk file in the original folder, search the computer for any .wbk files.

 

I have word 2002.

Ive tried searching date modified. And I searched .wbk, and there aren't any .wbk files on my entire computer. I just dont understand where that file that I think was the one I was looking for would have gone. I'm even searching in hiddent files and folders. Could something have just completely deleted it when I restored the file?

Also, does anyone know if it was even the file that I wanted? It was .asf, and it appeared to be the right size for my document.

 

Don't think is would be a .asf file http://filext.com/file-extension/ASF

You could have overwritten the file, if you did not empty the bin, that's all I can think of.

 

"You might need to open the recovery file yourself When the AutoRecover feature is turned on, Word typically opens recovery files when you restart Word after a power failure or similar problem.

If for some reason Word did not open the recovery file, you can open it. By default, the recovery file is located in the Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Word folder or the Windows\Profiles\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Word folder. "

You can get info on Auto Recovery via the Help Menu in Word 2002, I will go look at other options and if I see anything that might help you I will post back.

 

oops, I meant I think it was .asd

And I didnt empty the bin. I right clicked -> restore.

 

Yes, think .asd was it http://filext.com/file-extension/asd

From what I find in AutoRecovery the file is deleted if not saved, sorry.

Only other is to try data recovery software but I have never used any of it myself, so not the one to instruct you on this.

Look here by date and see if anything is there, I had one sitting there...who knows you might get lucky.
The path to look is C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Word

Application Data is a hidden file, to see it: Control Panel > Folder Options > Hidden Files (check show)

 

YES!!!!!!!! that's it!!! that was the filepath I recovered them to!!! than you so much!!!! You just saved me like 5 hours of work, re-editing this stupid paper. I am eternally grateful.

When I was restoring it originally, I remembered that the final folder it was in was "Microsoft word", but I thought it was in program files. And I couldn't figure out why I couldn't find the file when I selected the option to search hidden files and folders.


Thanks!!!

 

You're Welcome, glad you found it Next time a document comes up in recovery save it to another name, just in case you need it again. Sorry about the hidden files, mine show...so didn't think about it till after you logged off.