How to Retrieve Data From the Computer's Cache

By Patrick Phelps

Like RAM, cache memory is erased once your computer is turned off.
i memory image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com

Computers use several types of memory, including RAM, hard drive memory and cache memory. Both RAM and cache are "volatile" memory, meaning that once you turn your computer off, you delete the contents that you saved in your RAM or cache. Cache memory primarily speeds up the processing of a computer. Having a large amount of cache memory means that the computer does not need to consistently access its hard drive to retrieve information.

Open any Windows application. For example, open up your work processing application. Types of work processing applications for Windows include Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works.

Enter information into the word processor.

Close down the application without saving the file.

Re-launch the word processing application. Press "File, Restore." The application will access the cache memory of your computer and will restore the file you were working on but did not save. This process of accessing files from your computer's cache only works if another application does not use the cache memory prior to your restoring a file from it. A computer's cache memory is limited and any running application can quickly fill it.

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