See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951

Another possibility for recovery is to right-click on the file in Windows Explorer and choose Properties>Previous versions.

Ideally, of course, you'll be doing regular backups and you can simply re-load the file from the last known good backup.

FWIW this kind of problem typically occurs when the file is stored on a USB drive and that drive is disconnected while an application or even Windows itself still has the drive open. You must go through the safe eject procedures to avoid this.

When a Word document file is corrupted, then you can try several methods to recover it:

1. First of all, you can try the recovery function integrated with Microsoft Word, as follows:

1) On the File menu, click Open.
2) In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the file that you want to open.
3) In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file.
4) Select the file that you want to recover.
5) Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.

You may find more information about this at:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-the-text-from-a-damaged-document-HP005189610.aspx (for Word 2003)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672/en-us (for Word 2007/2010/2013)

2. Second, since Word 2003, it provides a "Document Recovery" or "AutoRecover" mechanism so that when Word is shutdown abnormally, the Word file being edited will be recovered when Word is launched next time, which makes the file recovery possible.

See below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827099/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/do-you-want-to-view-recovered-files-again-HA010354297.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/automatically-save-and-recover-office-files-HP010140729.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-your-office-files-HP010354299.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-files-HP003078411.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-your-files-HP010140613.aspx

for more detailed information.

3. If 1 and 2 does not work, then you may try third-party tools such as DataNumen Word Repair at

http://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/

It provides a free demo version so that you can try to see if the data you want can be recovered or not.

Good luck!

When a Word document file is corrupted, then you can try several methods to recover it:

1. First of all, you can try the recovery function integrated with Microsoft Word, as follows:

1) On the File menu, click Open.
2) In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the file that you want to open.
3) In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file.
4) Select the file that you want to recover.
5) Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.

You may find more information about this at:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-the-text-from-a-damaged-document-HP005189610.aspx (for Word 2003)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672/en-us (for Word 2007/2010/2013)

2. Second, since Word 2003, it provides a "Document Recovery" or "AutoRecover" mechanism so that when Word is shutdown abnormally, the Word file being edited will be recovered when Word is launched next time, which makes the file recovery possible.

See below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827099/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/do-you-want-to-view-recovered-files-again-HA010354297.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/automatically-save-and-recover-office-files-HP010140729.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-your-office-files-HP010354299.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-files-HP003078411.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-your-files-HP010140613.aspx

for more detailed information.

3. If 1 and 2 does not work, then you may try third-party tools such as DataNumen Word Repair at

http://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/

It provides a free demo version so that you can try to see if the data you want can be recovered or not.

Good luck!

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:47 AM

When a Word document file is corrupted, then you can try several methods to recover it:

1. First of all, you can try the recovery function integrated with Microsoft Word, as follows:

1) On the File menu, click Open.
2) In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the file that you want to open.
3) In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file.
4) Select the file that you want to recover.
5) Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.

You may find more information about this at:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-the-text-from-a-damaged-document-HP005189610.aspx (for Word 2003)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672/en-us (for Word 2007/2010/2013)

2. Second, since Word 2003, it provides a "Document Recovery" or "AutoRecover" mechanism so that when Word is shutdown abnormally, the Word file being edited will be recovered when Word is launched next time, which makes the file recovery possible.

See below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827099/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/do-you-want-to-view-recovered-files-again-HA010354297.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/automatically-save-and-recover-office-files-HP010140729.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-your-office-files-HP010354299.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-files-HP003078411.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-your-files-HP010140613.aspx

for more detailed information.

3. If 1 and 2 does not work, then you may try third-party tools such as DataNumen Word Repair at

http://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/

It provides a free demo version so that you can try to see if the data you want can be recovered or not.

Good luck!

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:47 AM

When a Word document file is corrupted, then you can try several methods to recover it:

1. First of all, you can try the recovery function integrated with Microsoft Word, as follows:

1) On the File menu, click Open.
2) In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the file that you want to open.
3) In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file.
4) Select the file that you want to recover.
5) Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.

You may find more information about this at:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-the-text-from-a-damaged-document-HP005189610.aspx (for Word 2003)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672/en-us (for Word 2007/2010/2013)

2. Second, since Word 2003, it provides a "Document Recovery" or "AutoRecover" mechanism so that when Word is shutdown abnormally, the Word file being edited will be recovered when Word is launched next time, which makes the file recovery possible.

See below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827099/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/do-you-want-to-view-recovered-files-again-HA010354297.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/automatically-save-and-recover-office-files-HP010140729.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-your-office-files-HP010354299.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-files-HP003078411.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-your-files-HP010140613.aspx

for more detailed information.

3. If 1 and 2 does not work, then you may try third-party tools such as DataNumen Word Repair at

http://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/

It provides a free demo version so that you can try to see if the data you want can be recovered or not.

Good luck!

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:47 AM

When a Word document file is corrupted, then you can try several methods to recover it:

1. First of all, you can try the recovery function integrated with Microsoft Word, as follows:

1) On the File menu, click Open.
2) In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the file that you want to open.
3) In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file.
4) Select the file that you want to recover.
5) Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.

You may find more information about this at:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-the-text-from-a-damaged-document-HP005189610.aspx (for Word 2003)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672/en-us (for Word 2007/2010/2013)

2. Second, since Word 2003, it provides a "Document Recovery" or "AutoRecover" mechanism so that when Word is shutdown abnormally, the Word file being edited will be recovered when Word is launched next time, which makes the file recovery possible.

See below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827099/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/do-you-want-to-view-recovered-files-again-HA010354297.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/automatically-save-and-recover-office-files-HP010140729.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-your-office-files-HP010354299.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-files-HP003078411.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-your-files-HP010140613.aspx

for more detailed information.

3. If 1 and 2 does not work, then you may try third-party tools such as DataNumen Word Repair at

http://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/

It provides a free demo version so that you can try to see if the data you want can be recovered or not.

Good luck!

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:47 AM

When a Word document file is corrupted, then you can try several methods to recover it:

1. First of all, you can try the recovery function integrated with Microsoft Word, as follows:

1) On the File menu, click Open.
2) In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or Internet location that contains the file that you want to open.
3) In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file.
4) Select the file that you want to recover.
5) Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.

You may find more information about this at:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-the-text-from-a-damaged-document-HP005189610.aspx (for Word 2003)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672/en-us (for Word 2007/2010/2013)

2. Second, since Word 2003, it provides a "Document Recovery" or "AutoRecover" mechanism so that when Word is shutdown abnormally, the Word file being edited will be recovered when Word is launched next time, which makes the file recovery possible.

See below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316951/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827099/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/do-you-want-to-view-recovered-files-again-HA010354297.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/automatically-save-and-recover-office-files-HP010140729.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/recover-your-office-files-HP010354299.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-files-HP003078411.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/word-help/use-the-document-recovery-task-pane-to-recover-your-files-HP010140613.aspx

for more detailed information.

3. If 1 and 2 does not work, then you may try third-party tools such as DataNumen Word Repair at

http://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/

It provides a free demo version so that you can try to see if the data you want can be recovered or not.

Good luck!

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:47 AM

Hi Kyle,

You may try some additional methods to recover data from corrupt Word document.

• Try Open Office: It has been seen that open office is able to open corrupt MS word document.
• Search in Email: It may possible that you have mailed this document to someone previously. You may not recover your whole document through this method but something is better than nothing!

Yesterday I was working on a very important Microsoft Word (2013) document, when it suddenly crashed. Upon trying to reopen the file Word said: The file is corrupted and cannot be opened. I have tried all of the other methods of restoring it, such as opening it in a different program, or opening it and choosing "open and repair" in MS Word.

                 I too faced the same problem but by using Remo Repair software I repaired my Word 2013 document in just a couple of minutes.

Microsoft word application include a bundle of benefit like text editor, picture insertion, header alignments, mail merge and other various options required for fulfill regular office needs for drafting and scheduling of posts. But some time application fails to initialize or opens in an unusual format that makes already saved data barely readable. There is a two most common messages which we see in a case of MS Word corruption:

'Word cannot open this document.'
'User does not have access privileges.'

To know more about MS Word corruption and corruption solution visit: http://sysinfotools.com/blog/ms-word-repair-corrupted-word-documents/

• Edited by Amit G90 4 hours 36 minutes ago

Hi thanks for this information. What is the "Open" button? I do not see this on Word 2013.

-Andrew

Hi thanks for this information. What is the "Open" button? I do not see this on Word 2013.

-Andrew

It's in the Open dialog box. By default, you have to click File | Open | Computer | Browse to display the dialog box in Word 2013.

Or you could select "Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files" at File tab | Options | Save and then use Ctrl+O to quickly display the Open dialo

Hi thanks for this information. What is the "Open" button? I do not see this on Word 2013.

-Andrew

It's in the Open dialog box. By default, you have to click File | Open | Computer | Browse to display the dialog box in Word 2013.

Or you could select "Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files" at File tab | Options | Save and then use Ctrl+O to quickly display the Open dialo