Weird Word Document Issue

[TheTalker]

I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

I'm having a problem. There's a program that I've used called CCleaner. It removes unused files from your system and stuff. Well, I used it three days ago and when I rebooted the computer I found that one of my documents in Microsoft Word had reverted to an old version from many weeks ago.

This is so weird and really bothers me because none of my other word documents were changed. They're fine.

I was able to re-create the scenario just to be sure that CCleaner was the culprit and that there really is only one document reverting back to an old save. And that's what's happening.

Can anyone help me with this? Why is this happening to only one document when I have many others?

Thank you.

 

[Product FRED]

On rare occasion, CCleaner will create a false positive. But normally, it would delete the file, not revert it. This is unusual. Anything special about this file?

 

[TheTalker]

There is nothing special as far as I know:

-It's password protected as it's my account list with my usernames and passwords and stuff.
-It's running in compatibility mode but so are some other documents that were not reverted.

 

[Product FRED]

Take a look at this: Piriform Community Forums > CCleaner Changes MS Word?

It says to uncheck MS Word for cleaning.

 

[whs]

I can only imagine that it has something to do with the AutoSave of word (which creates temporary files). Maybe the file was marked as a temporary file. Change the AutoSave in Word Options for a test and see what happens.

 

[TheTalker]

Thanks for the link. But that thread is dated back in 06-07. Wouldn't the problem be fixed by now you think?

 

[Product FRED]

I noticed the date as well. In response to your question, I don't think so. Just uncheck Word from the list of things to be cleaned.

 

[TheTalker]

I can only imagine that it has something to do with the AutoSave of word (which creates temporary files). Maybe the file was marked as a temporary file. Change the AutoSave in Word Options for a test and see what happens.

I just noticed something else that is weird. Maybe it's just my lack of knowledge---I hope so.

I have Word set to create a backup every 1 minute, (was doing a test), and I had the document up for five minutes and I saw the file in AppData, etc, etc, and when I closed out of the document there was no backup created.

However there are other documents having backups made. Why is this?

I noticed the date as well. In response to your question, I don't think so. Just uncheck Word from the list of things to be cleaned.

Well, if you think that they still haven't fixed the problem then okay. I went ahead and unchecked the "Recent Documents" and "Office 2007".

 

[Product FRED]

Let me know if it worked.

- Fred

 

[TheTalker]

I will let you know.

How are backups created? Are they only created if the power goes out and the document isn't saved or what? Because for some reason there are no Word backups being created in my AppData, etc, etc, folders.

 

[whs]

If I understood that right, the document is still in a backlevel format. I suggest to save it as a .docx - maybe that will solve it.

 

[TheTalker]

You're right, the file extension is .doc. Are you saying that if I make it .docx then it should make backups? Or that it shouldn't be reverted by CCleaner?

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I appreciate your time.

Edit: I saved the document as a .docx and then let the program run for 1 minute. I saw the backup in the AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\ but when I shut out of the document without saving the backup then disappeared.

How are backups created in AppData and so forth? Are they only created when the power goes out or the document wasn't saved?

 

[CarlTR6]

You're right, the file extension is .doc. Are you saying that if I make it .docx then it should make backups? Or that it shouldn't be reverted by CCleaner?

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I appreciate your time.

Edit: I saved the document as a .docx and then let the program run for 1 minute. I saw the backup in the AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\ but when I shut out of the document without saving the backup then disappeared.

How are backups created in AppData and so forth? Are they only created when the power goes out or the document wasn't saved?

When you open a saved Word document, a temporary file is written to the hard drive. The file name begins with "$" sign and is the same name as the document you opened. Should the power go out or should Word crash, Word will recover that temporary file as a document. When you close the document you are working on, that temporary file is deleted (most of the time).

If you have enacted that back up feature, Word will update that temporary file at the time intervals you specify. Once you save your work, and close the document the temporary file is gone - or supposed to be.

 

[TheTalker]

When you open a saved Word document, a temporary file is written to the hard drive. The file name begins with "$" sign and is the same name as the document you opened. Should the power go out or should Word crash, Word will recover that temporary file as a document. When you close the document you are working on, that temporary file is deleted (most of the time).

If you have enacted that back up feature, Word will update that temporary file at the time intervals you specify. Once you save your work, and close the document the temporary file is gone - or supposed to be.

AH!! Okay, I understand now! So that explains why my backups aren't there---the power isn't going out or anything that would interrupt saving. The only thing is that my backups don't start with a "$" sign and aren't named after the document. They're actually named like this: ~WRA1287.

Would there be something wrong with that? ^

Anyways, back on topic. I actually had made a mistake. My sister reminded me that the first document issue which happened three days ago was actually when my document was deleted. So that's definitely CCleaner's fault as it's known to do that.

I was able to get a backup however. And today the file reverted to that backup which was made three days ago.

So, yeah, I suppose there's really nothing that can be done except untick the "Recent Documents" and "Office 2007".

Does this sound right?

 

[Product FRED]

That sounds about right. Really it's not that bad. There's not really much to clean out from there anyways.

 

[TheTalker]

Alright! Thank you.

I've got one more question. Someone on that thread you gave to me said that it's not good to have CCleaner running when you start the computer especially when a program recently installed needs a reboot.

Is this still correct? If so what should I do to stop the program from running on startup?

 

[CarlTR6]

AH!! Okay, I understand now! So that explains why my backups aren't there---the power isn't going out or anything that would interrupt saving. The only thing is that my backups don't start with a "$" sign and aren't named after the document. They're actually named like this: ~WRA1287.

Would there be something wrong with that? ^

Anyways, back on topic. I actually had made a mistake. My sister reminded me that the first document issue which happened three days ago was actually when my document was deleted. So that's definitely CCleaner's fault as it's known to do that.

I was able to get a backup however. And today the file reverted to that backup which was made three days ago.

So, yeah, I suppose there's really nothing that can be done except untick the "Recent Documents" and "Office 2007".

Does this sound right?

You are correct It was my mistake. MS Office temporary files begin with a tilde, "~", not a "$" sign. Good catch. I should know better than to trust my memory!!

 

[whs]

Alright! Thank you.

I've got one more question. Someone on that thread you gave to me said that it's not good to have CCleaner running when you start the computer especially when a program recently installed needs a reboot.

Is this still correct? If so what should I do to stop the program from running on startup?

Get it out of the startup programs. Type msconfig into start/search and hit enter. Go to the Startup button. Then uncheck CCleaner and click apply. Close the msconfig window.

 

[TheTalker]

You are correct It was my mistake. MS Office temporary files begin with a tilde, "~", not a "$" sign. Good catch. I should know better than to trust my memory!!

Oh, no, it's fine! You've helped me greatly.

Get it out of the startup programs. Type msconfig into start/search and hit enter. Go to the Startup button. Then uncheck CCleaner and click apply. Close the msconfig window.

I checked and CCleaner is not there. So I checked all the other boxes besides just Startup and no CCleaner. Should I check again? Should it be there?

 

[whs]

I checked and CCleaner is not there. So I checked all the other boxes besides just Startup and no CCleaner. Should I check again? Should it be there?

I guess if it not there, than it is not there. I wonder though why it would run automatically at startup. You can double check in CCleaner itself (see picture).