File Search

• 1). Open the search feature by pressing the Windows logo and "F."
  
  
• 2). Search for the exact file name if you know it by typing the exact file names in quotes. For example, if the exact file name was Research Paper, you would type in "Research Paper" with quotes.
  
  
• 3). Type in part of the file name into the search box if you can't remember the exact file name.
  
  

Recycling Bin

• 1). Check to see if your lost file was deleted and sent to the recycling bin by double-clicking the recycling bin on your desktop.
  
  
• 2). Scroll through the list of items in your recycling bin and locate the file you want to recover or restore.
  
  
• 3). Right-click the file you want to restore and click "Restore" to restore your lost file to its original location.
  
  

Microsoft Word

• 1). Recover a Microsoft Word file by first clicking the Microsoft Office button and then clicking "Word Options."
  
  
• 2). Click "Advanced."
  
  
• 3). Scroll through the list until you find the "Save" section.
  
  
• 4). Check the "Always Create a Backup Copy" to see whether Microsoft Word created a backup copy of your lost Microsoft Word file.
  
  
• 5). If Word did not create a backup copy of the file click "Force Word to Try and Recover the File."
  
  
• 6). If the "Always Create a Backup Copy" option was selected, open the folder in which you last saved your missing Word document.
  
  
• 7). Look for files that have the file extension ".wbk."
  
  
• 8). If none of the files have this extension click "Start" then "Search."
  
  
• 9). Click "Click Here to Use the Search Companion" in the lower left-hand corner of the "Windows Desktop Search" pane.
  
  
• 10
  
  Click "All Files and Folders" under the "Search Companion" pane.
  
  
• 11
  
  Under the "All or Part of the File Name" box type *.wbk.
  
  
• 12
  
  Click "My Computer" under the "Look In" box and click "Search."
  
  
• 13
  
  If you find any file names that are called "Backup of (name of the document you are searching for)," open the backup file by first opening Microsoft Word.
  
  
• 14
  
  Click the Microsoft Office button and then "Open."
  
  
• 15
  
  Click "All Files" and locate the backup file and click "Open."