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I’ve never seen this be the case.

For the most part, the files still exist in the local filesystem unless one uses the “free up space” function to unload files to the cloud.

Where users have ended a subscription, they have become unable to add content to the cloud storage, which is to be expected. I’ve never been unable to download a file, it effectively goes into read-only mode.

I run a repair shop and work with consumers on a daily basis.

I’ve had dozens of occasions where a client is about to be spending hundreds on advanced data recovery service, but I had them check OneDrive.com only for them to discover everything they cared about is already there.

I’ve also had plenty of occasions where someone hands me their “backup” only for it to be a blank external drive that they plugged in and assumed would “just work”

I would argue that Microsoft’s strategy is actually highly effective for getting tech novices connected to a backup solution that doesn’t add anything new to the to-do list. Windows Users really have to consciously go against the grain to end up paying for advanced data recovery services.

Care to elaborate on “take away access”?

By default, it simply gets remapped from C:/Users/Username/Documents to C:/Users/Username/OneDrive/Documents and remains accessible through the %USERPROFILE%/Documents environment variable.

Not exactly hard to create a symlink if you need it either.

The pattern looks like a GPU, more specifically a problem with VRAM.

This looks like a low to mid range HP laptop, so I question whether or not it even has dedicated graphics.

Systems with integrated graphics share RAM to use for graphics functions.

To test VRAM, one would use Nvidia MATS/MODS or AMD TServer/Memtune. They are not very accessible for the average user.

To test RAM, use Memtest86. This one is free and relatively straightforward.