AutoRecover Microsoft Office

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Elle__

Commendable
Dec 16, 2016
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Hi. I arranged for Task Scheduler to automatically shut down my computer every day. I had Microsoft Excel open last night with a few notes made in it. It was an unsaved file. Normally when the computer shuts down [generally forcefully, either through power failure or pressing the power button] the files you had open prior to the shut down are recovered. I checked the local recovered files are normally located, and did a search on the C drive for Book1, nothing.

I was wondering, since automatic shut down isn't forceful would that affect recovering files, saved and unsaved? In theory it shouldn't make a difference since I didn't actually exit out of the program, nor saved unsaved files, but like I said, nothing was recovered.
 
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Saga Lout

Saga Lout

Retired Mod
Mar 31, 2010
24,042
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For the future, in Excel you can set an auto-save every ten minutes or whatever you set it to.

For now, open up File Explorer and from the View menu, click Options then Change File and View Options. Then click the View tab and scroll down to the entries for hidden files and system files and folders. Tick to show them all and OK your way out.

Look in Documents for files with a $ symbol before the name. They will be temporary files Office made and one of them might be your unsaved spreadsheet.
 
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E

Elle__

Commendable
Dec 16, 2016
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1,530
So apparently it was a fluke. I hadn't checked the options in Excel before the computer restarted but default options have AutoSave for every ten minutes, so I remain confused. Fortunately there wasn't anything that important that was lost.. I had done an experiment last night, after modifying settings to meet my needs [changing where recovered files are put, so they're easier to find, etc]. I opened a blank worksheet and typed gibberish in random cells then before ten minutes was up I forced it close then reopened. Nothing was recovered. I did the same experiment, this time waiting 10-15 minutes and the gibberish was recovered, along with the file I had open that I hadn't changed. Neither of this explains what happened the other night though.. Last night the computer powered off, then I turned it on today and *voila* the gibberish and untouched saved file were recovered.. This still doesn't explain the other night but all seems to be "well".. I'd still recommend making sure to save files every so often rather than relying on AutoRecover because you never know when there might be a fluke and all you worked on disappeared, especially with a blank document!! *GASP*

I already had "show hidden files and folders" selected but was still unable to find anything in the bizarre folder recovered files are kept. Recent files was available, including the file I had open but hadn't touched.. Nothing with a "$" *shrug*
 
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Elle__

Commendable
Dec 16, 2016
33
0
1,530
Not a fluke. So.. Computer problems recently but I didn't uninstall anything or change any settings in Microsoft. The computer just restarted, I reopened Excel, nothing!! Just a blank Book1!!
 
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E

Elle__

Commendable
Dec 16, 2016
33
0
1,530
Still having problems if anyone knows of a solution.. I have auto-save set up, and chose a folder that's easier to find, but nada this time the computer restarted because of Task Scheduler/Automatic shut-down.. Something I noticed as it was shutting down, I was prompted whether I wanted to save files or not. Could it be that since I didn't select that I wanted things to be saved that Microsoft assumed I didn't want things saved and discarded them, despite all the previous auto-saves?
 
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Saga Lout

Saga Lout

Retired Mod
Mar 31, 2010
24,042
310
69,740
On the restart, open up to show hidden fles and folders and not to hide System files and folders in View menu>Options>Change search options, then look in your Documents folder where the Word document should be.

Any file with the name starting with a $ symbol might be the one that Word created when the shutdown.
 
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