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Answer» A few days ago my wife needed me to email a word document file to her. She's not particularly computer savvy, and she opened the file directly from Internet Explorer rather than saving it to her hard drive (i.e. when asked "Do you want to open or save this file?" she clicked on "open"). She spent hours working on the document and "saved" it multiple times along the way, but she never did a "save as". Today when she went to work on it again, she couldn't find it.
After she told me the situation, I thought, "ah ha!" it must in the Temporary Internet Files folder. However, there is no trace of it there. The folder is stuffed with crap, so I figured that it must've been purged or whatever, but even when I open up the original version of the file in the same way and save it in the same way she did, I can not find it in the Temporary Internet Files folder.
This seems like a HUGE mistake on Microsoft's that this could happen, and I am thusly more annoyed with them than ever. However, more importantly, is there ANYTHING I can do to get this document back for her? Fortunately for her she has plenty of time to re-constitute the whole thing, but the time wasted was way too much for it all to be lost for such a silly thing.
Thanks!what about the most recently used list that appears in the file menu? (assuming this is PRE 2007)start, search, all files and folders, all or part of file name [ *.doc ], press the search button
The above will find all Ms Word files on your computer.
Make Sure Search is set to search in hidden file and folders.
To display hidden files and folders
1.Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
oClick Start, and then click Control Panel.
oDouble-click Folder Options.
2.On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
Notes
•Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not typical items. Usually, hidden files are program or system files that should not be deleted or changed. To display other hidden files, clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box.
•If you know the name of a hidden file or folder, you can search for it. For more information, click Related Topics.
•If you want to see all file name extensions, clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.
start, All programs, Accessories, Dos Prompt
For a Dos search:
C:\>cd \ # to reach root directory
C:\>dir /s *.doc # /s option searchs down from root
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is B8F2-4B99
Directory of C:\bin
03/06/2005 09:59 PM 4,195 LIST.DOC
1 File(s) 4,195 bytes
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Templates
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 4,608 winword.doc
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 1,769 winword2.doc
2 File(s) 6,377 bytes
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.BILLSCOMPUTER\Templates
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 4,608 winword.doc
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 1,769 winword2.doc
2 File(s) 6,377 bytes
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Bill Richardson\Desktop
09/14/2008 08:12 PM 24,064 clinks.doc
11/28/2008 07:40 AM 29,696 Ken.doc
2 File(s) 53,760 bytes
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Bill Richardson\My Documents
12/09/2007 04:10 PM 24,064 47919.doc
12/22/2008 06:27 PM 24,064 AARPTeri.doc
12/21/2007 01:24 PM 29,184 address.doc
05/10/2008 08:32 AM 66,048 APPLICATION_FORM.doc
03/17/2008 05:37 PM 25,088 BetaHelp.doc
10/29/2008 04:00 AM 407,040 BoardHaunted.doc
04/12/2008 08:49 AM 24,576 computerHelp.doc
03/16/2008 10:57 AM 25,600 convert.doc
03/04/2008 09:22 PM 24,064 convertflv.doc
09/01/2008 09:00 PM 31,232 err420.doc
11/28/2007 06:46 PM 24,064 fivetimes.doc
05/31/2008 02:39 PM 24,576 Franh999.doc
01/25/2008 05:05 PM 75,776 friends.doc
12/02/2007 08:33 AM 45,056 guns1201.doc
11/25/2008 12:00 AM 25,088 Hiddenfiles.doc
01/31/2008 07:02 AM 20,480 Hitee.doc
12/27/2008 07:38 PM 76,288 Hpsupport.doc
12/22/2008 05:44 PM 24,064 Loretta122208.doc
07/21/2008 08:07 AM 38,912 Oklahoma08.doc
12/16/2008 02:04 PM 24,064 P.doc
12/21/2007 09:02 PM 24,064 safe.doc
01/25/2008 07:25 AM 24,064 Screenshots.doc
01/28/2008 11:10 PM 24,576 Sky.doc
07/08/2008 06:56 PM 24,576 Utubecode.doc
01/29/2008 12:32 PM 19,968 Yeah.doc
25 File(s) 1,176,576 bytes
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Bill Richardson\Templates
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 4,608 winword.doc
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 1,769 winword2.doc
2 File(s) 6,377 bytes
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 4,608 winword.doc
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 1,769 winword2.doc
2 File(s) 6,377 bytes
Directory of C:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\trellix_SE\samples
12/29/1998 03:44 AM 91,648 wordimp.doc
1 File(s) 91,648 bytes
Directory of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\1033
03/11/2003 11:50 PM 25,088 PROTTPLN.DOC
03/11/2003 11:50 PM 27,136 PROTTPLV.DOC
2 File(s) 52,224 bytes
Directory of C:\READIRIS
09/25/1998 05:33 PM 15,859 connect.doc
09/25/1998 05:33 PM 26,112 connect7.doc
09/25/1998 05:33 PM 19,968 connread.doc
09/25/1998 05:34 PM 19,456 readme.doc
4 File(s) 81,395 bytes
Directory of C:\WINDOWS\shellnew
08/01/1997 03:37 AM 10,752 WINWORD8.DOC
1 File(s) 10,752 bytes
Directory of C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Templates
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 4,608 winword.doc
08/04/2004 06:00 AM 1,769 winword2.doc
2 File(s) 6,377 bytes
Total Files Listed:
46 File(s) 1,502,435 bytes
C:\>your advice is necessary only in the case that the file doesn't appear on the Most Recenty Used List maintained by office applications.
And your DOS based search accomplishes nothing over the windows search, other then increased verbosity. (also avoiding that blasted dog)
Let's wait until the OP returns.
Additionally, the file actually wouldn't have been downloaded to temporary internet files, but rather would have placed itself on the desktop (the default download location) or in the %TEMP% directory.Thanks for your replies. I suppose I should have orifinially mentioned that we tried both checking the recent documents and searching for all .doc files. No dice.
This is really strange. When IE asks you whether you want to "open" or "download" a file, it must download it in either case. It's just if you say you want to "open" it, it downloads it to a temporary folder (which I figured was the Temporary Internet Files folder) and then prompts the application, Word in this case, to open it. However, as I mentioned in the original post, when I tried doing exactly what she did (opening the file directly and then saving it in Word) and then searching for it, even then I couldn't find it. It's like Word saves it into a blackhole never to be seen again.
At this point it's a theoretical dicussion anyway since she's already put the time back into re-constituting the document, but I am curious to know what's going on here. If it's this easy for someone to lose their work, SOMETHING is wrong...
Thanks againIt's possible- that IE downloads the file, but when CREATING it, gives it a special file open file, called "FILE_DELETE_ON_CLOSE". Word opens it as well; and you can even save during that session. But once word (or whatever application was used to open it) closes the file, it dissapears.
BC wrote:
"Your advice is necessary only in the case that the file doesn't appear on the Most Recenty Used List maintained by office applications.
And your DOS based search accomplishes nothing over the windows search, other then increased verbosity. (also avoiding that blasted dog)"
Use the XP search and *.doc . The "*" is a wild card and will find most MS Word documents.
On my computer with XP Home, the DOS search will find files that the MS Search misses. When having difficulty finding a file, Use the DOS search. It cannot hurt and will most likely help. Use all tools available.Quote from: billrich on January 06, 2009, 02:18:56 PM
Use the XP search and *.doc . The "*" is a wild card and will find most MS Word documents.
On my computer with XP Home, the DOS search will find files that the MS Search misses. When having difficulty finding a file, Use the DOS search. It cannot hurt and will most likely help. Use all tools available.
No need to explain the basic semantics of the asterisk wildcard. (and don't delve into uses of the question mark wildcard either )
I believe the only difference between what the DOS search finds and the XP search finds is that the DOS search will search %SYSTEMROOT% whereas the Windows Search will not search system folders.
however, the dir command you've provided will not search hidden folders, and would not find hidden files, either. you would need to specify the /a switch to do so.
Code: [Select]dir *.doc /s /a /w
/w of course isn't necessary but makes the results easier to view if there is more then a pageful of files. of course one could optionally employ the /p switch or pipe the result to more.
Code: [Select]dir *.doc /s /a /w /p
or
Code: [Select]dir *.doc /s /a /w | more
problem being I don't believe the person having difficulty locating the files has any experience using the DOS prompt and likely would prefer a GUI based solution.BC wrote:
"No need to explain the basic semantics of the asterisk wildcard. (and don't delve into uses of the question mark wildcard either )"
The suggestion was not for you but for the person who lost the file.
I'm sorry you don't use DOS. You might have found the file.
I tried to understand your explanation of the lost file. I have no idea what you are talking about.
If I don't know what you talking about, how will a new user follow your discussion. I have 40 years of experience.
Good luck with the people you offer help.
Quote from: BC_Programmer on January 06, 2009, 03:07:39 PMproblem being I don't believe the person having difficulty locating the files has any experience using the DOS prompt and likely would prefer a GUI based solution.
Since the lost document was already reconstituted, I was merely theorizing on the way IE might have downloaded the file.
It Opens a file for output to write it. THis file is located in the temp directory specified by %TEMP%
but it uses the DELETE_ON_CLOSE flag.
then it launches word.
which opens the file as well
IE closes the file.
in word, it is modified, Saves are performed, but no save as, so it's the same file.
the file is closed.
which results in it's deletion.
this would explain the dissapearance of the file from the Most recently used list, since I believe the office programs check wether a file exists before adding a menu ITEM for it.
Additionally, regardless of the search method used, a deleted file in not going to be found, except by using a recovery tool.
QuoteIf I don't know what you talking about, how will a new user follow your discussion. I have 40 years of experience.
And this was BC's point on sending someone to the command prompt for help as well...
Let's face it there is no one way in a Forum atmosphere to determine the user's skill level or what they understand about their issue...they just want a resolution.
I know personally people who although they have had a PC for 8 plus years wouldn't know what to do with the command prompt and most likely would panic with the results and quit.
That being said let's remember we are here to help...and bickering about different ways to achieve the results not only doesn't help the OP but shines a bad light on the process itself.
Quote from: patio on January 06, 2009, 05:23:28 PMThat being said let's remember we are here to help...and bickering about different ways to achieve the results not only doesn't help the OP but shines a bad light on the process itself.
That is a good point, and in light of it I apologize to you, Billrich, for my criticisms.
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