How to Restore Previous Versions of a Word File

On most Windows systems, when a file is edited and saved in Microsoft Word the edited version of the file replaces the original file. Since the original file no longer exists, it is impossible to restore the file if you discover that pertinent information was accidentally deleted. The Ultimate, Business and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista, however, contain a feature that allows previous file versions to be recovered. (It is not verified at this date that this feature has been carried forward in Windows 7.)

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Locate the Microsoft Word file that you want to restore on the computer's hard drive. Save a copy of the file by right-clicking the name of the file and selecting "Save as..." from the menu.

2. Name the file something that will differentiate it as the most recent version of the file. When a file is restored in Windows, it replaces the most recent version of the file with the restored version. If you do not create the new file, you will lose any changes you have made since the previous version of the file was saved.

3. Right-click the Word file that you want to restore again and select "Properties." The "Properties" window will open.

4. Click on the "Previous Versions" tab in the "Properties" window. Select the version of the file that you want to restore from the list of previous file versions listed and click "Restore."

5. Press the "Yes" button to confirm that you want to restore the file when the pop-up warning message appears on the screen. The most recent version of the Microsoft Word file will be replaced with the version of the file that you selected from the list.

Tips & Warnings

• If no previous versions of the Microsoft Word file appear on the "Previous Versions" tab in Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Enterprise then no previous versions of the Word file exist on the system.
• Vista Ultimate, Business and Enterprise are able to restore files because they contain a feature that creates "shadow copies" of all versions of a file and stores the copies on the system's hard drive. This feature can be added to other Windows-based systems. The "shadow copy" feature is available in Windows service packs.

References

• Technet
• Maximum PC Guides
• Microsoft Shadow Copy

Resources

• Windows Service Packs