Word 2000 deleted my file when I saved it

[N&B in the highlands]

After working on a difficult, 12 page document (with no graphics), I clicked
on the Save icon to save my recent work as I had done many times throughout.
This time, a message popped up that there was some error with drive f: (a USB
stick where the document was located) and to push ok. Clicking ok yielded
about 4 error messages, with the only option to push ok. When all was said
and done, my document had gone. I've checked on the stick, in My Documents,
and in any temporary folders I can find and can't find anything. Is there
hope to recover it? What happened (so I can avoid it happening again)?
Thanks.

 

[DeanH]

Word documents should never be saved/edited from/to CDs, Memory Sticks and
the like. Always work with the files on hard drives and then copy to a
moveable drive, for backup and travel purposes.
Unfortuantely you have been hit by this feature.
If you can, copy the file over to the hard drive. then try to open from
Word, maybe Open and Repair may work.
If you have not closed the PC, the temporary working file may still be
available.
Hope this helps
DeanH