MS Word - How to retrieve an original file?

I saved over (over-written) an original file (Word 2007) without changing the file name first and would like to retrieve the original. I feel there should be some way of doing this that isn't too difficult but do not know how to do this.



I often use old job applications as a draft for new applications; just change a few necessary details, and do a Save As, change file name to suit. I hit the Save button by mistake! I use a USB drive to save these files, not the hard-drive, which I like to keep fairly clean.





Just wondered if there would be an easy way to do this.MS Word - How to retrieve an original file?Hi Mate



The Always create backup copy setting in Word creates backup copies of every document that you create.



First, follow one of these steps to see whether the Always create backup copy setting is enabled:



* If you use Microsoft Office Word 2007: Click the Microsoft Office Button, click Word Options in the lower-right corner, and then click Advanced. Scroll through the headings until you find the Save section, which is close to the end of the list. If the Always create backup copy setting, located in the Save section, is selected, Word created a backup copy of the document.

* If you use Microsoft Office Word 2003: On the Tools menu, click Options. The Always create backup copy setting is located on the Save tab. If the Always create backup copy setting is selected, Word created a backup copy of the document.



Then, if the Always create backup copy setting is not selected, go to method 3: %26quot;Force Word to try to recover a file.%26quot;



If the Always create backup copy setting is selected, follow these steps to find the backup copy of the lost document:



1. Locate the folder in which you last saved the missing document.

2. Look for files that have the .wbk extension.



If there are no files that have the .wbk extension in the original folder, follow these steps to search the computer for all files that have the .wbk extension:

1. Click Start, and then click Search.

2. In the lower-left corner of the Windows Desktop Search pane, click Click here to use Search Companion.

3. In the Search Companion pane, click All Files and Folders.

4. In the All or part of the file name: box, copy and paste (or type) the following text:

*.wbk

5. In the Look in box, click My Computer, and then click Search.

3. If you find any files that are named %26quot;Backup of%26quot; followed by the name of the missing document, follow these steps to open the backup copy:

1. Start Word.

2. Perform one of the following actions:

* If you use Word 2007: Click the Microsoft Office Button, click Open, click All Files (*.*) in the Files of type box, locate and select the file, and then click Open.

* If you use Word 2003: Click Open on the File menu, click All Files (*.*) in the Files of type box, locate and select the file, and then click Open.MS Word - How to retrieve an original file?You can feel there is some way, but there isn't. That's why you make backups.MS Word - How to retrieve an original file?not likely. once bits are over written, they're gone. it's like taking a piece of clay,making somthing and then molding something else w/ the same material. the original is gone.

the only way which might even come close is if you try a deleted files recovery like glary utilites or recuva and find all the 'lost' bits and try to make files out of them and open them in word, but you will find so much more and more work than simply rewriting the orignal.