Where do .asd files go when I click restore from the recycle bin?

L

Lizard

Using Word 2003, and my power went out before I'd saved my changes to a
previously existing document. I opened the recovered version, and clicked
save as, and chose the option to merge changes into the existing file. (I'd
never used this option before so I thought I'd try it out.) Word came back
saying there were no differences between the two files, so I took it at it's
word and closed the file. I opened it later only to realize the changes
weren't there. So I ran a search and found the .asd file in the recycle bin.
I selected the file and clicked restore. Only after that, the .asd file
vanished and running a search now doesn't pick it up from anywhere, it only
shows the original file that doesn't have the changes I made. Does this mean
the auto-saved file has been deleted and there's no way to get these changes
back?
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

It's probably gone. When you clicked Restore, it went to the location
specified in Tools - Options - File Locations - AutoRecover files.

When Word opens, it checks that location to see if there are any .asd files.
If there are, then it alerts you to the fact that it has recovered work, and
gives you an option or two. The .asd file contains the name/location of the
original file, so Word knows what to compare it to. Once you've exercised
those options, the .asd file is disposed of (and might or might not show up
in the recycle bin... I've seen mixed results).

When work is at risk, after a Word crash, I'll usually go into the
AutoRecovery folder (before re-opening Word), and making a backup copy of
any .asd files I see there. That way, if Word flubs the recovery attempt, I
always have the option of opening the file using "Recover text from any
file" option to recoup any lost text.
 
L

Lizard

Oh well, I guess I know what I'll be doing tonight.
Thanks for the tip; I'll have to remember to do that the next time the power
goes out. That, and save more often.
 

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