Word Pad

[zodiacmaster]

I accidently deleted a word pad document I need (it is not in the recycle bin) is there anyway I can get it back? maybe do a system restore  to yesterday?

[Helpmeh]

STOP! Do not do anything involving saving files! Files recovery can be a tricky process if files are saved. Once deleted files are overwritten (pretty much) no program available to the average Joe can recover it. Download Recuva from http://www.piriform.com/recuva and use it to attempt to recover your file.

[mroilfield]

STOP! Do not do anything involving saving files! Files recovery can be a tricky process if files are saved. Once deleted files are overwritten (pretty much) no program available to the average Joe can recover it. Download Recuva from http://www.piriform.com/recuva and use it to attempt to recover your file.

Couldn't downloading a program also over write the deleted file? So in effect the OP could just be out of luck.

[zodiacmaster]

It didn't work and let me guess restore will not work either?

[Allan]

1) System Restore will not help
2) It is NOT true that deleted files are immediately overwritten - in fact, I've never even heard of that before. The only thing that happens when you delete a file is the pointer in the master file table is deleted so the system does not see the file and assumes the space the file occupies is now available, but the file remains as it was until something does indeed overwrite it.
3) I agree you should try Recuva

[soybean]

2) It is NOT true that deleted files are immediately overwritten -

Well, they could be overwritten quite soon if new files are being saved to the hard drive.  So, I believe mroilfield is correct is saying:

Couldn't downloading a program also over write the deleted file? So in effect the OP could just be out of luck.

And, it's also why Helpmeh said:

STOP! Do not do anything involving saving files!

[Allan]

I must have misread something. I thought for sure someone in this thread said that deleted files are immediately overwritten. My mistake.