Where did my file go?

Question

It was a gmail attachment that I modified (a Word document) after opening it directly. I opted to save the changes I made just by Ctrl+S. This was stupid of me, because I didn't save it to my computer, but obviously the changes did save somewhere on my computer. However, when I perform a search, the search comes up dry. Even when I search for all Word docs modified in the last week.

I checked my C:/Temp folder and my Temporary Internet Files and came up with nothing! I made major changes, and I need to find that file!

I did have to restart my computer this morning. I hope that didn't blow it for me. Am I SOL???

Answer 1

Try checking the temp directory for your user profile. This is usually located in C:\Local Settings\%username%\Temp. If you clicked the download link for the attachment in GMail and opened it in Word then saved it, it's likely the document got saved there.



Another way to find it, if it's saved on your computer, is to open My Computer, then do a search for *.doc file type, then in the next field, "A word or phrase in the file", enter some unique text in that document. Make sure in Advanced Options that you set it to look in Hidden files and folders. Your search should return your document for you and you can then open it and click Save As... to make sure you save it to a location you are more familiar with.



Hope this helps!

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Noticed you're still having probs. If there is a shortcut there then the file WAS there before. Depending on how important that document was, you can try using a program like Active@ Undelete to recover the document. You can dowload the trial version here: http://www.active-undelete.com/download.htm



You only need the Standard version and have it do a Simple scan of your C: drive first. If that doesn't find the file then do an Advanced scan. Whatever you do, don't run a defrag on the hard drive before you try to recover the file or it will be that much more difficult to recover.

Answer 2

It was saved as a temporary internet file. In that case, the temporary file name would have been just random characters. The file name would be jibberish, it won't make sense. So you are going to have to search by document type, and search by the modified date. If the document has not been deleted from the temporary internet files folder automatically, then you have a really great chance of getting it back. Just follow these instructions carefully.



In your browser, IE, there is a setting to empty the temporary file upon close of IE. If that is on, then it is gone for sure.



Otherwise, what you would want to do is, supposing you have Windows XP:



Click START > SEARCH > ALL FILES AND FOLDERS > WHEN WAS IT MODIFIED > WITHIN THE LAST WEEK > SEARCH.



You could also type in:

*.doc

in the 'name' text box to only show the type of 'doc' in the results as well.



Wait for the search to complete. Then, in the results window, click on the words "Date Modified". Click it again. This should now have sorted the list with the most recent document at the top. Looking at the "Type" column, go down the list and check all the documents of the same type that you were working on.



This is your best bet for finding your file.



Good luck.



Sorry, you're right. Sounds like it is gone. I know the feeling. Happens often enough to us all. At least all the good people ;-)



Hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you worked on that file right out of the email, without saving it first, I'm afraid all your work is gone.



Opening a file and editing this way creates a temporary file for Word to use, then immediately deletes the file after Word is finished running. ALWAYS save an email attachment, then run the application on the saved document.



Sorry.

Answer 4

If the doc was opened from an http site, then edited and you simply saved the file, it would have saved back to the IE temps.... Which, you say you checked.



Sounds like you may be SOL.



I would try doing one more search with *.doc in the filename field and use some of the text you just added, in the "find files containing the following text:" box. (you'll need to be in the "advanced" search view)

Answer 5

You could try C:/Documents and settings/USERNAME/Local Settings/Temp if you havent already....



But to me it sounds like it was saved in the temp folder at some point, but for some reason the file was deleted (probably a program youre running deleted it at system startup/shutdown)

Answer 6

Somebody's probably hacked you, these are normal "Symptons" Of the typical Hacker.

I advise back up all your FTP files, so that if it happens again, you have the file!

You cant retrive it again - Its gone I am afraid!



R.

Answer 7

Did you have a flash drive in your computer at the time? It may be on that. Also, you could've saved it to a FTP site, but that's not likely.