Search for the original document
The original document might not have been removed from the computer. Follow these steps to see whether you can find the document:
Click Start, and then click Search.
In the lower-left corner of the Windows Desktop Search pane, click Click here to use Search Companion, if that option is listed.
In the Search Companion pane, click All Files and Folders.
In the All or part of the file name box, type the name of the document that you want to find.
In the Look in box, click My Computer, and then click Search.
If the search details pane does not contain the document that you are looking for, you might have typed the file name incorrectly or the document might have a different name. Follow these steps to search for all Word documents:
In the Search Companion pane, click Start a new search.
Click All files and folders, and then copy and paste (or type) the following text into the All or part of the file name: box, and then click Search.
*.doc
If the details pane still does not contain the file that you are looking for, the document might have been moved to the Recycle Bin. To view the Recycle Bin and restore the document if it is there, follow these steps:
On the desktop, double-click Recycle Bin.
On the View menu, click Details.
On the View menu, click Arrange Icons by, and then click Date Deleted.
Scroll through the files.
If you find the document that you are looking for, right-click the document, and then click Restore to return the document to its original location.
The original document might not have been removed from the computer. Follow these steps to see whether you can find the document:
Click Start, and then click Search.
In the lower-left corner of the Windows Desktop Search pane, click Click here to use Search Companion, if that option is listed.
In the Search Companion pane, click All Files and Folders.
In the All or part of the file name box, type the name of the document that you want to find.
In the Look in box, click My Computer, and then click Search.
If the search details pane does not contain the document that you are looking for, you might have typed the file name incorrectly or the document might have a different name. Follow these steps to search for all Word documents:
In the Search Companion pane, click Start a new search.
Click All files and folders, and then copy and paste (or type) the following text into the All or part of the file name: box, and then click Search.
*.doc
If the details pane still does not contain the file that you are looking for, the document might have been moved to the Recycle Bin. To view the Recycle Bin and restore the document if it is there, follow these steps:
On the desktop, double-click Recycle Bin.
On the View menu, click Details.
On the View menu, click Arrange Icons by, and then click Date Deleted.
Scroll through the files.
If you find the document that you are looking for, right-click the document, and then click Restore to return the document to its original location.