Here's the story:

I just finished a big PowerPoint presentation, due today, and I went to copy it onto the network.
The working copy was stored in a folder called "Project Work" in My Documents.

I opened the corresponding network folder and proceeded to CTRL-C CTRL-V the .ppt over, overwriting the previous version in the process. I then realized (belatedly) that my colleague had made some edits to the version I had overwritten, so I hit CTRL-Z, which asked me if I wanted to erase this file (from the network folder). I said yes. Obviously, the old file didn't come back, so I just thought I would hit CTRL-Z again, and it would bring back the one I had just erased.

NO!!!!

It erased the one on my HD in the "Project Work" folder, thereby effectively destroying countless hours of work and also making meeting my deadline almost impossible.


I have downloaded 5 or 6 recovery programs, and none of them find the file. I find it hard to believe it is simply gone.

Anyone have any ideas?

Welcome to PCHF canven!

If you are at a large company they normally have recovery measures set in place, have you asked?

It's a long time ago since I used MS Office, but if I remember rightly it used to make a backup of the file you are working on. You may be able to search for the backup.

I hope you find the file...

Yeah... I checked with the systems guys, but they haven't found anything on the network.

It seems that Office XP only saves "Autosave" temporary files, which it then dumps when you save the actual document.

It looks like I am screwed and will be spending most of Saturday and Sunday recovering and will send out hopefully tomorrow sometime.

At least I will deliver before the end of the year.

Merry Xmas.

Thanks for taking the time to respond guys and for the welcome.

I think your best response will come from the Techies at your place, as they will know about previous methods aswell.

Office generally Autosaves every 10 minutes while your working, but with regard to your situation I'm afraid there are no happy answers.
Next time password protect the doc and make it Read Only