Windows Vista and 7

• 1). Shut down all of the applications you are running.
  
  
• 2). Click the "Start" button in the left corner of your desktop.
  
  
• 3). Type a keyword that signifies your lost file in the field that appears above your "Start" button. The keyword can be the name or part of the name of the file, a word within the file or any word that can be found in the file property.
  
  
• 4). Look through the results as they populate the right side of the search field. Double-click the file when it appears.
  
  
• 5). Click "File" in the main menu bar of the file. Scroll down and click "Save As." Name the file in the field that is provided in the dialog box. Find a location with the drop-down box and click the "Save" button.
  
  

Windows XP

• 1). Shut down all of the applications you are running.
  
  
• 2). Click the "Start" button in the left corner of your desktop. Scroll up and click "Search."
  
  
• 3). Select "All files and folders" in the search options box.
  
  
• 4). Pick what drives and locations to look for the lost files in the "Look in" box. Narrow your search by date as well as by size.
  
  
• 5). Hit the "Search" button and view the results. Double-click the file if it appears.
  
  
• 6). Click "File" in the main menu bar of the file. Scroll down and click "Save As." Name the file in the field that is provided in the dialog box. Find a location with the drop-down box and click the "Save" button.