Lost an Important Temp File

spannerzone

This method worked for me and I found my Outlook 2007 temp attachement files are here on my pc:
C:\Users\spannerzone\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\RLU1TCFC\

The process is to open regedit, find the data entry key, double click it to reveal the folder location and then copy it then paste the address into my computer / windows explorer, it appears you cannot just navigate to the location like you normally do when looking in files/folders.:

Step 1: Locate the folder
The folder location is stored in the registry in the following key;


Outlook 2003 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security


Step 2: Get to the folder

1. Open the OutlookSecureTempFolder registry key from the location provided in Step 1.
2. Copy the path from the key.
3. Open Explorer
4. Paste the address in the Address Bar and press Enter

Sadly this process is not for the faint hearted as it involves entering and searching the registry which is best avoided unless you're confident in such things.

spannerzone

Fifer wrote: »

If you open the attachment on the email you sent to your mother (on her machine), is it still the early version?

In my test I found 4 versions of the same word doc so there is a chance although a bit slim.

jazabelle

spannerzone wrote: »

I think I know what you've done as this happened on my old work computer (Windows XP with Outlook 2003) - I don't have it now so going from memory...

If I opened a word attachment it would offer open or save, if I opened the doc directly via Outlook then viewed it, it displayed in a word viewer mode (screwed up the document layout) so if you existed the viewer it then put the word doc into a regular word program allowing edits. Now, I think outlook held this file and named it something like OLK5256 (or some other odd naming that was random)

This page of info might help you locate the hidden place that Outlook might have put the file:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/securetemp.htm

The registry shows the location of your folder (note the registry is a place you can mess up the PC badly if you're not careful, not recommended unless TOTALLY happy with the registry)

DON'T USE THE CLEANER TOOL MENTIONED ON THAT PAGE

I hope this might assist!

Thank you. It wasn't outlook though, it was gmail and it didn't open in a viewer - it opened it directly in Word, so not sure if that's different.

spannerzone

jazabelle wrote: »

Thank you. It wasn't outlook though, it was gmail and it didn't open in a viewer - it opened it directly in Word, so not sure if that's different.

D'oh I'm sorry I totally misread that part about Gmail.... I must read more carefully... I think you can ignore all that I wrote as it won't likely apply.... the only possible thing might be to check the tempory internet folder if you haven't already.

:wall:

jazabelle

Fifer wrote: »

If you open the attachment on the email you sent to your mother (on her machine), is it still the early version?

Still the early version - I don't think you can change the attachment once sent via gmail?

spannerzone wrote: »

This method worked for me and I found my Outlook 2007 temp attachement files are here on my pc:
C:\Users\spannerzone\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\RLU1TCFC\

The process is to open regedit, find the data entry key, double click it to reveal the folder location and then copy it then paste the address into my computer / windows explorer, it appears you cannot just navigate to the location like you normally do when looking in files/folders.:

Step 1: Locate the folder
The folder location is stored in the registry in the following key;


Outlook 2003 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security


Step 2: Get to the folder

1. Open the OutlookSecureTempFolder registry key from the location provided in Step 1.
2. Copy the path from the key.
3. Open Explorer
4. Paste the address in the Address Bar and press Enter

Sadly this process is not for the faint hearted as it involves entering and searching the registry which is best avoided unless you're confident in such things.

Again, it's on gmail - so don't think it got saved in this location. Thank you though.

jazabelle

Just to be clear the exact steps on gmail were as follows:

Received email, clicked 'Download' which then brings up the option of open, save or cancel. She clicked open. This brings up a download list, but the files don't show on here as save was not selected. These documents when clicking save default to a file called download and I've searched through this with no luck, just in case.

Then the file opens in Word - it's not read open, it's editable. If I then click save as it shows me the location it opened in as being: User>AppData>Local>Microsoft>Windows>Temporary Internet Files. Again, I've searched this folder desperately with no luck.

jazabelle

spannerzone wrote: »

D'oh I'm sorry I totally misread that part about Gmail.... I must read more carefully... I think you can ignore all that I wrote as it won't likely apply.... the only possible thing might be to check the tempory internet folder if you haven't already.

:wall:

No problem. Yes, started by searching that folder, and check again about 50 times after, ever hopeful of it appearing!

I've pretty much given up. I think I've checked all the obvious locations - I think it must have been written open when I opened the document again from the email to see where it actually saved to.

Thanks for everyone's ideas and suggestions!

Cockney_Rebel

As Dave_C said =The default save folders for Word 2003 are listed under Word > tools> options > File locations tab.

Can you tell me what this says please. Usually, it is C:\Users\yourname\Document\

spannerzone

and I'm assuming you've checked the IE temp folder that would be hidden away as something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\spannerzone\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5

chris-j

Although it opens in word, the download from gmail will be to a different location, may be worth googling to see where gmail downloads its attachments to. The fact you kept saving and if did not prompt for filename indicates it did safe somewhere on your drive. Gmail attachments may go into browser cache, so worth opening browser and looking at file history as it might be there.