Microsoft KB Archive/44271

Word: Recovering a Temporary File

PSS ID Number: Q44271 Article last modified on 11-02-1994

3.00 3.10 3.11 4.00 5.00 5.50 6.00

MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

The following are instances where Word is unable to load a file:


 * 1) The file is a temporary file. If Word hangs (crashes), a temporary file MW######.TMP (where the number signs represent six unique numbers) is written to disk. This file is used by Word to retain text that is typed in during a particular Word session.
 * 2) The file is corrupt and Word is unable to properly load it (for example, when trying to load a file it gives the error message “Not a Valid File”).

Microsoft cannot guarantee that corrupted or temporary files at any time contain text that is meaningful or even readable, but the following procedure usually allows Word to read the file.

The first 8 bytes of the file contain the formatting information and tell Word whether the file is valid or not. Converting the first 8 bytes to spaces (ASCII character 32) is usually sufficient to allow Word to load the file.

This procedure can be accomplished by using the DOS COPY command. For example, if the original file is FILE1.TMP, type the following command at the DOS prompt:

COPY CON+file1.tmp file2.doc

Then, when DOS prompts for input from the keyboard, press the SPACEBAR eight times, press the F6 key once, then press ENTER. FILE2.DOC should now be available to attempt to load into Word.

Note: The + (plus) sign that occurs between CON and FILE1.TMP is an operator that concatenates input from the keyboard with the contents of FILE1.TMP. DOS will output the result into FILE2.DOC.

KBCategory: kbother kberrmsg KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.