which folder does msword uses to backup files for security reasons

[Naila]

Hi,
I have been editing a word document directly from an external divice.
Unfortunately today the external disk got broken and I cannot access the
device anymore.
I am just wondering whether some one may advise whether there's a folder in
my windows operating system in which Microsof Word might have been copying
automatically my file's contain? even though the automatic backup for a local
copy option has not been checked in the TOOLS option.

Many thanks for any assistance

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

You're out of luck unless there's some additional external backup of that
external device you haven't discovered yet. When editing, Word creates
temporary files in the same location as the file you're editing--those
temporary files sometimes can be harvested for bits of text if the main file
is deleted or corrupted. Since the device broke, that avenue is closed.

This is one of a number of reasons that long-time Word folks advise users to
NEVER edit files that are located on a drive that can become disconnected or
removed (such as floppies, removable USB drives, etc.). In addition to what
you've discovered, if the removable device is removed or becomes
disconnected for any reason while files are open in Word, the file can
become hopelessly corrupted.

Always copy the file to your own hard drive, edit it there, then copy the
edited file back to the original location, if desired. This doesn't help you
now... but hopefully will help in the future.