I uninstalled OneDrive two years ago, and since then it hasn't been syncing with my files. Just an hour ago, a OneDrive notification reappeared, but my files weren't synced, and the OneDrive folder was completely empty. In an effort to resolve the issue, I decided to uninstall OneDrive again. Now it seems like all my documents, desktop items, and images have been wiped from my computer. I tried restoring OneDrive, but all I see is an empty folder containing a Mario Kart 8 ROM. What can I do to recover my files?
1 Answer
It sounds like OneDrive didn't actually delete your files; it may have just unsynced or redirected them. First off, definitely avoid writing anything new to your drive to prevent overwriting any recoverable data. Check your user profile folders (like C:UsersyournameDesktop and Documents) as sometimes the files are still there but not linked correctly. Also, look for a Windows.old folder if there was a recent update or reinstall, and don't forget to check your recycle bin both locally and on OneDrive online. You might find that your files are still in the C:UsersyournameOneDrive folder but not visible due to some sync issues. If none of that works, consider using file recovery tools before the space gets reused. Often, this is just a matter of folder redirection rather than permanent deletion, so you might still have a good chance of recovering your data.
I did a file recovery and managed to get everything back except about 20 GB of missing files, but I'm not sure what they were. Thanks for the guidance!