Can't open .asd file?

Question

I have .asd file wich I wish to open. I have tried everything with word I think. And when I open in notepad that file, it shows random simbols, maybe its corrupted and can't be restored? By the way that file was restored from my disk. Any solutions ?

Answer 1

If you have an .asd file, it's likely a Microsoft Word AutoSave (AutoRecover) file. These files are generated automatically by Word to save your work in case of a crash. However, if the file shows random symbols in Notepad, it could be either a corrupted file or an incomplete AutoSave.

Here are some solutions you can try to recover or open the file:

1. Use Word's Built-in AutoRecover Feature

1. Open Microsoft Word and go to the File tab.
2. Select Open.
3. Click on Recent and scroll down to the bottom.
4. You may see an option for Recover Unsaved Documents. Click that to check if the AutoSave file is listed.
5. If the .asd file is listed, you should be able to open it in Word.

2. Change the File Extension to .docx

1. Sometimes, changing the file extension from .asd to .docx might work.
2. Right-click the .asd file and select Rename.
3. Change the extension from .asd to .docx (i.e., filename.asd to filename.docx).
4. Try opening the file in Microsoft Word.

3. Search for AutoRecover Files Manually

1. Open File Explorer and search for .asd files manually.
2. Navigate to the following location, depending on your version of Word:
3. Windows 10/11: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\
4. Older Windows versions: C:\Documents and Settings\<YourUsername>\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\
5. Check for any files with the .asd extension in that folder and try to open them.

4. Check the Temporary Files Folder

Sometimes, Word stores unsaved or AutoRecovered files in the temp folder. Here's how to check:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type %temp% and press Enter.
3. Look for files starting with ~ or ~WRL which are temporary files that Word might have created.
4. Rename them with a .docx extension and try opening them in Word.

5. Open the File Using Word's Open and Repair Feature

1. Open Word.
2. Go to File > Open.
3. Navigate to where the .asd file is located.
4. Select the file, and in the Open button, click the small arrow next to it.
5. Choose Open and Repair.
6. Word will try to fix any corruption and open the file.

6. Third-Party File Recovery Tools

1. If the file is corrupted and none of the above steps worked, you might try using third-party file recovery software, such as:
2. Stellar Repair for Word: Can repair corrupt Word documents.
3. Recovery Toolbox for Word: A tool to recover damaged Word files.

These tools can help repair corrupt files but may not be able to fix severely damaged ones.

7. Check for Backup Copies

1. Word may have created a backup copy of your document. Look for files with the .wbk extension in the same folder or in the Backup folder (if you have enabled the "Always create backup copy" option in Word).

8. Try Opening the File in OpenOffice or LibreOffice

Sometimes, third-party word processors like OpenOffice or LibreOffice can open Word files that Word itself can't. Try downloading one of these programs and opening your file there.

Conclusion:

Start with Word's built-in features to try to recover the file. If those don’t work, you can attempt the other methods, such as renaming the file or using a recovery tool. If all else fails, it may be worth trying third-party file repair or recovery tools.

Let me know if you need more assistance with any of these steps!