[barbkm]

Is there a simple way to solve word problems. I hate MSN, can't sign in. I lost a file and cannot recover it How does one get into windows explorer without MSN.

[smax013]

barbkm said:

Is there a simple way to solve word problems. I hate MSN, can't sign in. I lost a file and cannot recover it How does one get into windows explorer without MSN.

You should have no problem getting into Windoze Explorer, regardless of MSN...Internet Explorer (something COMPLETELY different) is a different matter.



You lost me...you might have to fill in a few more details as I think I am not seeing the "whole picture".

[barbkm]

How do I get into windows explorer. I run Vista and using word 2003 I lost a file as I was moving it into a folder. when I go to help they advise to go into explorer and rt click on file( I see it listed) help box says need to reset extension. Not understanding thse directions as file is there but I am not able to retreive it.

[rgreen4]

If you can see the file, does it have an extension? If the file extension is not .doc, then you cannot open it in Word by double clicking, and Word will not list it automatically.

One way you can open it directly into Word, is when you go to file open, it points to the default folder. Change that in the search window of Word so that it points to the folder where the file is and then change the file type right below it to "All files". This will display all the files listed in the folder, then just click on the file and then click on open. You then can click on save as and either change the folder, the name or extension of the file.

Here is the open dialog box:



Double click on the image to enlarge and improve resolution.

[barbkm]

This does not work I see the file listed but clicking open does nothing.

In the help box for 0ffice word 2003 they suggest" open the file with text recovery converter". I have no idea where to find this?

[rgreen4]

If you see the file in the Word search box, what is the extension?

[barbkm]

There is no extension, just the file name

[rgreen4]

Ok, lets look at it using Windows Explorer. Do you normally see file extensions in Windows Explorer?

[barbkm]

No I do not see extensions

[rgreen4]

Early in this discussion you mentioned that you had trouble getting into Windows Explorer. One of the reasons is that it has been buried in the Accessories folder since XP came out. But you can easily pin Windows Explorer to the top of the Start Menu where it is easy and quick to find if you want. Click on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories and while the list is displayed, right click on Windows Explorer. This will open a dialog box with a list of options and toward the top you will see "Pin to the Start Menu". This will allow you to find it quickly and easily.

Here are examples - the first is the Start menu with the options list displayed

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

Next is the start menu with Windows Explorer pinned above the faint line right after Firefox and Windows Mail.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

Next we need to verify that the file extensions are displayed. We do this by opening Windows Explorer and when it opens click on the small arrow to the right of the word Organize in the upper left menu bar. Then click on Folder and Search options and when this opens, click on the view tab. I always check "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and uncheck "Hide Extensions for Known File Types". This last one is probably the reason no file extensions are showing.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

Now when you look at the file list in Windows Explorer it should show the extension. What is the extension? How many bytes does the file occupy?

[barbkm]

Thank you for your patience. I followed your directions and do find all my files are .doc. This still does not help me bring up my lost file. It is very small probably 35 kb. At this point it is probably easier to redo it, but I just wanted to know how to recover it and none of the usual things are working.

[rgreen4]

Ok, if Word 2003 will not open a file with a .doc extension, it is either damaged or there is another problem with the file. Since you originally created the file, it has to in fact be damaged. This could have happened when the file did not go where you expected. If you were moving it to an external drive, it the machine was turned of before the buffer was flushed, you didn't get all of the file, and 35K is awfully small for a Word file.

[barbkm]

Again thank you for all the information you gave me . I redid the missing file!

[rgreen4]

I am sorry we couldn't retrieve the file. We have a good success rate, but not a 100%. Out of curiosity, what size is the new file?

[barbkm]

I am embarrased to report only 20kb. I am editing a cookbook, so had to rework a recipe. Retreiving this lost file just became a matter of principle to me. I really appreciated your efforts on my behalf
May I call on you in the future?

[rgreen4]

You may call on the entire PC World Community at any time. I am editing your post to remove your name and e-mail as it should never be posted on-line.