How Word creates and recovers the AutoRecover files (107686)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0c
This article was previously published under Q107686

SUMMARY

This article describes how Word for Windows creates and recovers AutoRecover (.asd) files (AutoSave in Word 6.x and 7.x) when you select the "Save AutoRecover Info every <n> Minutes" check box. (To locate this option, click Options on the Tools menu and then click the Save tab.)

MORE INFORMATION

Note AutoRecover or AutoSave does not replace the Save command. You should use the Save command to save your document at regular intervals and when you finish working on it.

AutoRecover is only effective for unplanned disruptions, such as a power outage or a crash. AutoRecover files are not designed to be saved when a logoff is scheduled or an orderly shutdown occurs.

Setting the location for .asd files

If you do not set a location for AutoRecover files, Word places them in the temporary directory (in Word 6.x, the directory you designate with a SET TEMP statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file).

To set the .asd location, use the appropriate method for your version of Word

Method 1: Word 2003, Word 2002, Word 2000, Word 97, and Word 7.x

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the File Locations tab.
  2. In the File Types box, click AutoRecover Files (AutoSave in Word 7.x).
  3. Click Modify.
  4. Enter the name of the folder in which you want Word to store recovered documents.
  5. If a new folder location is needed, click Create New Folder, type the new folder name, click OK, and click OK to exit.

Method 2: Word 6.x

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the File Locations tab.
  3. Select the AutoSave Files list item.
  4. Click the Modify button.
  5. In the Modify Location dialog box, select the drive and the directory where you want to store AutoSave files, and then click OK.

Naming conventions

Word 97 and later versions of Word: The naming convention for Word AutoRecover files is "AutoRecovery save of <document name>.asd," where <document name> is the file name of the document.

Word 6.x, 7.x: The naming convention for Word AutoSave files is ~Wra####.asd, where #### is a number generated randomly by Windows.

Opening saved files

When you start Word, it searches for any .asd files. If Word finds any, it does the following:
  1. Renames each .asd file to <document name>.wbk. Word 6.x and 7.x rename .asd files to ~Wra####.bak.

    NOTE: The #### numbers may not be the same as the .asd filename because Word avoids any naming conflicts with existing .bak files.
  2. Opens all AutoRecover files.
  3. Deletes the AutoRecover file (the "AutoRecovery save of <document name>.wbk" or the ~Wra####.bak file) when you do either of the following:

    Save the recovered file.

    -or-

    Close the recovered file without saving it.

When files are renamed

Word renames the AutoRecover files in the case that the program hangs (stops responding) when the AutoRecover file is opened. The next time Word is started you see the following symptoms.

Word 2003 and Word 2002

Word will start with the Document Recovery Task Pane listing the available files that Word recovered. Following the name of the file will be a status indicator that shows what was performed to the file during recovery. The status of Original indicates the Original file based on last manual save. The status of Recovered is the file recovered during recovery process or file saved during a AutoRecover save process. The Document Recovery task pane lets you open the files, view what repairs were made, and compare the recovered versions. You can then save the version you want to use and delete the other versions, or save all the open files to review later.

Word 2000

Word will start. If Word was able to detect a recovered file, Word will start with the document open. In the title bar, the document is listed as <original filename> (Recovered). You then have the option to save the file back to the original name or to save as a different name.

Word 97

Word encountered file corruption while opening <filename>. Part of this document may be recoverable. Attempt recovery now?
If you click Yes, Word attempts to recover all or part of the file. If you click No, the .wbk file remains in the AutoRecovery directory.

Word 6.x, 7.x

Word renames the AutoSave files in the case that program hangs (stops responding) when you open the AutoSave file. If a problem occurs that damages the AutoSave file, you can still recover your work using the ~Wra####.bak file, located in the AutoSave directory.

After Word renames your .asd files, it does not automatically open the .bak files, so you must open them manually by clicking Open on the File menu. To list all the .bak files, type ~wra*.bak in the File Name box.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/3/2006
Keywords:KB107686
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