“Word crashed while I was working on it, but luckily I was able to retrieve the file.”

Earlier today, you were writing a resume for applying for a job. While you were writing, the computer program shut down and you were worried that your file would be lost. Now you're telling a friend about what happened. You say:

Word crashed while I was working on it, but luckily I was able to retrieve the file.

(a computer program) crashed

The word "crash" describes a computer program which stops working suddenly. The program suddenly closes or disappears.

Your entire computer can also "crash".

(something happened) while I was (doing something)

Explain two different things that happened at the same time using "while":

I found some spare change while I was looking for the remote in the couch cushions.

I called up Phillip while I was waiting for my flight to board.

it

In the example above, "it" means the resume document. You can imagine that someone already mentioned it before in the conversation.

luckily I was able to (do something)

This is a common phrase to use when you're describing how you solved a problem:

There was some water leaking out of the side of it. Luckily I was able to find the leak and fix it before it became a big problem.

We didn't have anyone to stay with or any kind of hotel reservation. Luckily we were able to find a decent room at the Sheraton.

retrieve a file

To "retrieve" something means to get it back after it's been lost, hidden, or stored.

One common way to use "retrieve" is to talk about information on a computer:

New solid state hard drives are able to retrieve files much more quickly than traditional ones.

Human beings also "retrieve" memories.