recover deleted photo files

my sister in laws man friend rebooted?(not sure of terminology) xp onto there laptop he saved his files to a portable hd and deleted everything else on the computer as past of the process. she has now lost hundreds of family photos:cry i was wondering if there is a program or a way of getting those missing files back? buyiung a program isnt a problem as the photos are desperatly wanted back.
thanks in advance

 

thanks for your quick help i noticed within 10 minutes you had helped me all the way from the motherland.

i downloaded the three files went round to the sis in laws to help. loaded photo recovery that was for usb sticks i think. then loaded pcinspector with the doctor picture started up it was going for ages only did 2 % in 3 hrs left it overnight but he was playing games and things occasionally (some people cant be told or helped) it died overnight then tried again it it died a couple more times (not sure what else he is doing) it has recovered some pics but not many so i have told them they might as well pay a computer shop to do it quickly for them because i think that is the only way the computer will be left to do its thing.

the funny thing is he deleted the hundreds of photos but it is her fault because she didnt back them up to disk??:confused