Retreiving deleted word files

[Chucko]

Can accidentally deleted word files be retreived? The computer has windows
vista.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[little_creature]

1. Have a look into recycle bin if you didn't empty it.

2. If you have checked in Word options *make backup copy" then you will be
able to find bakup copy of that file on your HDD

3. you might be lucky and find a temp file - unfortunately I do not have
Vista, but on XP these files were stored in Document and Setting>user
name>local setting>temp
Easy way how to get to this folder was: Start>run and type there %temp% and
hit enter - hope this is still valid in Vista. There are various temporary
files stored - be aware the name doesn't go in accordance with the original
file names - they are coded, so you will have to go through the files. If
yopu have problems to open them by double click - right click on that
file>open with> choose either word or notepad to see the file content.
Usually if you open it in notepad and see at the beginning "senceless
character" scroll down the text file to see the content. Very basically
said, the nonsence characters belongs to formating or/and pictures.

Hope this will help a bit, however, you posted to Mac group and therefore
you may get better answer in window vista newsgroup.

 

[Chucko]

Hi again, little creature...thanks for responding...
The file was actually 'written over' with other stuff, and the other stuff
was saved, instead of the original stuff...can this still be retreived?

 

[little_creature]

Hello Chucko,
IF you had WORD documet let say named HELLO and you have open it change any
text and accidently save it as HELLO instead of GOODBYE your only chance
was:
1. any temp file related to HELLO which are however deleted whn you close
word. If you switch your PC ON and Off there isn't much chances now

2. Any Word created backup - if you have that checked in Tools>option>always
create a backup copy - the backup is updated a bit later than the document

3. If you have enabled *allow fast changes* in Word>tools, then you might be
a bit lucky - try to open the file you now have in notepad as I mentioned
last and search if the missing text is there (ignore any character for
formating and pictures-long senceles character mess)

However if you have file named HELLO and in total commander or whichever
file manager do you use, you replace it by another file named HELLO, then
theoreticaly you can try data recovery application or service, if that file
was very important, however the service is not cheep and I'm not giving it
much chances to be recovered.

If you do not have any backup-I think you are out of luck, but you might try
it.

Hi again, little creature...thanks for responding...
The file was actually 'written over' with other stuff, and the other stuff
was saved, instead of the original stuff...can this still be retreived?

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