MS Outlook - Lost an edited attachment!!

Dr Pepper

Hi,

Long story short.. My boss opened a word doc attached to a mail (in outlook express), edited it and saved it. Went to open the same doc today but it had reverted to the original (unedited) version. Anybody know where or how I can find the edited version from yesterday (if it even exists).

I know outlook express uses 'temp internet files' directories to store things like this but I can't seem to browse through subfolders in 'temp internet files' (the folders just don't appear) and I can't search this folder. Anybody any experience/insight into this problem?? Thanks

mr_disc

he must have saved the edited version somewhere else ....? maybe ( by default ) in his "my documents " ?

Dr Pepper

No sign of it in there! Did a search of the c drive to. Thanks anyway.
He said he just clicked File > Save and not 'Save as'

seamus

This works in Outlook (can't vouch for outlook express):

1. Open up an attachment in an entirely different mail, preferably Word, Excel or Powerpoint.
2. Go to File -> Save As...
3. In the save as dialog, make a note of the name of the folder in the "Save In" field at the top. It may be something like "OLK12"
4. Go to Start -> Run.. and type in "c:\document and settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet files\OLK12" (Obviously substituting "OLK12" for the name of the folder above".
5. If it worked, you'll be presented with a list of files....

mr_disc

hmmm, depending on how many documents he has opened since he could try ( when in word ) to click on "file " option, and at the end of the drop down box there will be a list of recently opened docs, also look under recent documents ( click start )......

Dr Pepper

mr_disc - "My recent docs" doesn't seem to have anything listed for the file in question. I guess files don't go in there if there opened from attachments. Also, my boss attempted to open so many word docs while looking for it, the recent file list doesn't show the one I'm looking for anymore!

seamus - I tried the very thing and the file in question DOES appear in an obscure directory in 'temp internet files' but it's just the original version. There aren't any other versions in that folder. Outlook express seems to handle the attchments in a slightly different way to outlook (which I have). I've tried various tests in both of opening and editing attachments but still can't find where express sticks edited attachments.

Thanks for the suggestions and Sorry! - should have listed things I had already tried!! Not to worry anyway. I think it's time to give up and start it again. Ah well, at least I don't have to do it

mr_disc

seamus

Dr Pepper wrote:

seamus - I tried the very thing and the file in question DOES appear in an obscure directory in 'temp internet files' but it's just the original version. There aren't any other versions in that folder. Outlook express seems to handle the attchments in a slightly different way to outlook (which I have). I've tried various tests in both of opening and editing attachments but still can't find where express sticks edited attachments.

It's probably the way the cache is handled.

What Outlook Express probably did is this:
1. Saved the edited file in that temp. folder with whatever name, document.doc.
2. When your friend opened the attachment again, OE said, "Right, I better open this in my temp. folder. Oh look, there's one already there. *DELETE*. Now I can save this original version again".

Hence, it's gone.

TempestSabre

It might have renamed the edited copy. Do a search for similar file types (docs's) (including hidden files) with approx the same file size.