Microsoft OneDrive deleted files

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Got a mate who deleted a load of photo's from OneDrive, and just to ram it home, also the copies in the undelete/recycle folder. He didn't realise it would also delete them from his PC :(. Is there an way at all that he can get them back from OneDrive or failing that, which recovery software (free or pay) do most recommend?. (already told him not to let anything else write to the PC in the meantime)
 
As far as I am aware they are gone once they've been removed from the recycle folder on OneDrive.

As you've guessed, it'll be a recovery software option. Only one I've used is the Sandisk Rescue Pro and it was great but I think it's for memory cards only.
 
There is a second stage recycle bin, but you'd need to raise a support call with MS

Interesting, have already spoken to an MS live chat OneDrive support team bloke and he didn't mention this. Will speak to them again tomorrow, maybe on the phone this time, once I have his PC here. Thanks for the info.
 
OneDrive is effectively SharePoint, just skinned differently. An MS tech will know about the second stage recycle bin, whether they can do anything with it is another matter, but certainly it's a thing, so it's worth checking.
 
If the files were stored on an SSD drive, I would say your chances are extremely slim. SSDs usually clean up deleted parts of the drive with TRIM.
whenever a delete command is issued by the user or the operating system, the TRIM command immediately wipes the pages or blocks where the files are stored. This means that the next time the operating system tries to write new data in that area, it does not have to wait first to delete it.
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/simple-questions-what-trim-ssds-why-it-useful
 
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