How To Find A Lost Microsoft Word Document (With Screenshots)

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Writing isn’t always just about writing, so I thought I would share a little tip that has saved me thousands of potentially lost words. Most of us are not computer programmers, so here is a visual way to find a lost Word document in case of a computer crash or loss of power. Save this for when the unthinkable happens to your work in progress!

Step 1: Type “File Explorer” in the search field in the lower-left corner of your screen. Alternatively, it may already be pinned on your Home Bar at the bottom of your screen and you may click that as well.

Step 2: Your screen will look like this. Click “This PC” on the left highlighted below.

Step 3: Once you click “This PC”, you should see a screen that looks similar to the one shown. On the right side, there is a small search bar. Type “.asd” and push the blue arrow button. You need to include the period that comes before the “a” in “asd”!

Step 4: All you have to do is wait. It will likely take between 15 and 45 minutes to complete the search.

Step 5: Once your computer finds the file, double-click to enter the Word document.

Step 6: Click the “Save As” option and you can go back to work!

I genuinely hope you never have to use this, but knowing has saved me dozens if not hundreds of hours.

-Mike

Appendix

Short Story Substack Winners

Ten Seconds - The Devil only wants ten seconds of your life. Do you take the deal?

Bear - Simple and beautiful love between a father, his daughter, and a stuffed bear.

Mr. Harold’s Gift - Not all gifts that are given are well received.

The Mummer’s Parade - Love that is real and true is often messy.

The Garden Club - The power of rumor to destroy. A story that is both fictional and educational.

Depression Séance - Magic is real in the eyes of a child.

Abrama’s Endgame - Sci-Fi look at artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and the struggle to survive.

Do-Over - What happens when you get to re-do your life? What does that answer say about the life that was lived?

Goodbye, Debbie Sue - Freedom on your own terms.

Tools

Webster's 1913 Dictionary - Inspirational dictionary that appreciates the art and beauty of words.

Hemingway App - Online tool that will tighten your writing.

One Look Thesaurus - Wide-ranging thesaurus that goes beyond simple synonyms.

Free Online Short Stories

How To Tell A True War Story - Tale of violence and what it means to know the truth.

Good Old Neon - A look at life and death from a different perspective.

Hills Like White Elephants - One of the best uses of subtext ever.

The Egg - Mind-bending sci-fi look at the reason for humanity.

I Have No Mouth But I Must Scream - Sci-Fi horror about a malevolent AI.

Flowers For Algernon - Looking at the limits of intelligence and love.

To Build A Fire - Tale of survival in the bitter cold.

The Cask of Amontillado - Revenge.

The Garden Of Forking Paths - Spy thriller set in WW2.

Rikki Tikki Tavi - On courage in the face of danger.