18. Microsoft Word (or Excel) has just crashed while I was working!
Microsoft Office applications such as Word or Excel can stop responding whilst you are working on a document. This is often the result of incorrect software installation or configuration, or an indication of a hardware fault.
Fortunately, these applications make a temporary file, which holds a working copy of the document while it is open. When you restart the program, this feature usually restores the working document to the point where you were working (or a position very close to it).
Sometimes, however, this temporary working copy may also be damaged or not available, for example when you open a document which is stored in a network folder or a read-only folder.
Even in these situations, it may be possible to restore most of your missing data but you will need to contact your IT support person or call our helpdesk for advice on what to do.
If your computer has locked-up completely and is not responding to any action, please refer to FAQ 2 first, for ways to close it down.
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