Deleting a file in Word

[<>lessa<>]

This is a test, really, but I do have a real question:  a question only a newbie would ask.

In Word, when you click File, it shows you only four of your files.  There is no Delete option offered.  I deleted the same files in my Documents, but they STAYED in Word.  So I can only see 4 files--the ones I want GONE.

In the old MS Word, there was a Find File, and then you could delete.  Oh, for the good ole days.

<>lessa<>

[SteveW]

In Word, after you click File in the menu, the files shown at the bottom of the list are quick links that allow you to reopen files that you have worked on recently.

It is best to delete files only in My Documents, as you did.  The file names will remain in the list of files in Word, but if you click on one, you'll discover that the file can't be found. 

So the files that you wanted gone really are gone. Their names will remain in Word's list until they get replaced by the names of other files that you've worked on more recently. 

To Open files other than the 4 shown in your MRU (Most Recently Used) list, you can click File > Open (or Control-O), and you'll get a box where you can navigate to the file you want to open, OR...

You can go to Windows Explorer (My Documents) and navigate to the file there.  Then just double-click on its name, or single click on it and then press Enter, to open it in Word. This is a handy way to open documents, because Windows knows (usually!) which program to use to open each different type of document. 

[<>lessa<>]

Thank you so much.  That worked perfectly.  You're so good, I just have to ask one other thing:

I went to my Recycle Bin and wanted to revive five files.  I clicked on Restore.  They should have reappeared in Word, but they didn't.  And they aren't in the Recycle Bin, either.  (One of them had been created by a former user of this computer, in Word.  Would that affect it?)

I appreciate all this help tremendously.  And I'm off to the Donation Bin...er...site.

<>lessa<>

[SteveW]

I went to my Recycle Bin and wanted to revive five files.  I clicked on Restore.  They should have reappeared in Word, but they didn't.  And they aren't in the Recycle Bin, either.

When you click Restore, the file is moved back to whatever directory it was in at the time it was deleted. Unfortunately, you're not told where that is!

If you know what folder it was in, you can go there in Windows Explorer to find and open it. Otherwise, you can use the Search feature in Windows Explorer to hunt for it:

Click the Search button at the top of the screen.
Fill in the boxes for what you're looking for.
The place to search is most likely My Documents.

(One of them had been created by a former user of this computer, in Word.  Would that affect it?)

No, the file should be there somewhere. If the directory where the file previously was has itself been deleted since the file's deletion, Windows will even create a new folder of that name so it can put the file there.

[SteveW]

So the files that you wanted gone really are gone. Their names will remain in Word's list until they get replaced by the names of other files that you've worked on more recently. 

If you want those file names also removed from the File list in Word, you can (in Word) follow this series of clicks:

Tools > Options > click the "General" tab.

About halfway down the list is a box labeled Recently used file list. Uncheck that box, then click OK. That will empty all the file names in the list, but it also turns off that feature, so now you need to turn it back on...

Repeat the steps above, but this time Check the box. You can also set however many files you want in the list (1 to 9). Click Ok.

That turns the Recently used file list back on, but it still won't show any files because the list was emptied. File names will start accumulating in it again as you open and edit them.

This is usually more trouble than it's worth unless you really want those file names gone! 

[<>lessa<>]

Thank you so much.  It worked perfectly and I got rid of those pesky files.  It was well worth the trouble!


About Restoring in the Recycle Bin:

Since the files I wanted to Restore were listed as Word files, I assumed they'd be sent back to Word.
Not so.  And they are not in My Documents, either.  I'll work on this.  I really appreciate your instructions.  I've printed them all out.

<>lessa<>

[SteveW]

Since the files I wanted to Restore were listed as Word files, I assumed they'd be sent back to Word. Not so. 

Correct. Word is only a program that edits files that reside in various locations on your disk. Word isn't really for managing where the files are located, so they wouldn't be sent "back to Word". They'd just be sent back to the directory where they had been previously. Word and the files are independent. Word is the program. Your documents are just data files, which could be scattered in locations all over the disk.

Also, Restoring the file from the Recycle Bin won't cause the name to reappear in the Most Recently Used list in Word's File menu.

And they are not in My Documents, either.

Examine all the various options in Windows Explorer that appear after you click the Search button. 
You might have to click some little arrow buttons to expand all the sections. 

One option you're looking for is Search Subfolders. That should be checked, or else it will only search My Documents and quit.

The procedure will be:

Click Search.
All files and folders (I always use this one regardless of what I'm really searching for)
Enter the file name
Look in: My Documents
Expand: When was it modified? Make sure it says, "Don't remember"
The same for: What size is it?
Expand: More advanced options
   I usually check: System Folders, Hidden Folders, and Subfolders (the important one).
   I usually uncheck: Case Sensitive and Tape Backup.

The system seems to remember these settings, so you don't have to specify every one every time you search.

If it still doesn't find the file, you can revise the search so it searches your whole C: drive, which will take several minutes.


And then the last resort is to go to My Documents in Windows Explorer and then search manually each one of its subfolders, expanding each one as you go to make sure you also see all the sub-sub-folders.  I did say it was unfortunate you aren't told where the file was Restored to!

This doesn't help in this situation, but I just realized that in the Recycle Bin, one of the columns (far right?) is labeled "Original Location", and that will tell you where the file is going to go when you Restore it.

[SteveW]

If the "Original location" column isn't being shown, click View > Choose Details... and then find and check the box next to Original Location.

You can do that in any folder to choose which columns you want to see.

[ciara1]

hello stevew, thanks for the great help you offer, i always get my problems solved whenever i read your answers on this forum, what i can tell you is to go on and help the world, rewards await you from God. thanx