Exported a recording with Audacity, cannot find file anywhere.

[juicitron]

So it's pretty simple, I visited a friend and had him record something in Audacity for me. I exported the file as a .wav, saved it in my videos directory, made sure it saved and then closed audacity. I didn't save the project itself, I've recorded countless times with Audacity and never needed to do such since the actual exported file would be complete.

I shut down my comp, got back home and I can't find the file ANYWHERE. It's like it never existed. I'm baffled because I remember saving it and everything, and I honest to goodness cannot find it. I tried using Audacity recovery tool, looking in recycle bin, everything. If anyone has any ideas for trying to find my lost file, please and thank you in advance.

 

[Mooly]

Did you have any external drives plugged in at the time that it could have gone to ? There is a 'recent items' option in W7. Does it show there (if you haven't got that option enabled then it wont magically appear even if you do enable it)

Try making another quick file in Audacity and save it. See where the offered location is.

 

[juicitron]

I went to see what directory it would want to save in automatically: still in the Videos directory. I did not have any external drives plugged in at the time. And it doesn't show in the recent items thing. I know I recorded this thing but like I said, it seems like it never even existed haha. Any other ideas?

 

[essenbe]

Did you go into Audacity and try 'save as' and see where it took you? I know you went to the default save location but save as should take you back to the last save location.

Also, please excuse me for asking a dumb question. You said you went to a friends to have him record it for you. Did you record it on his machine or yours?

 

[juicitron]

I did go to where the default "save as" location was, and the file is not there. I've also searched with the start menu for the file and it does not appear. And I wouldn't say that is a dumb question haha, but to answer it was my own machine which I type on currently I didn't have any externals plugged in, and I saved the file on my /C drive but it's like it never existed.

 

[Mooly]

Its beginning to sound like either it didn't save for whatever reason or you perhaps didn't click what you thought you did... it happens.

Only other option would be to search for .wav and see if you can spot it. You could also try rebuilding the search index in case it is around somewhere and not showing in a search. That's a real long shot though. Rebuilding the index is easy and can be beneficial in any case. Methinks it is not going to be found though.

Index - Rebuild

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Can you remember any fragment of the saved file's name other than .wav?

Regardless, I'd try a good search tool such as Everything from voidtools.com.

If that can't find it, I'd assume it was not saved, despite your intent.