How to open a raw file system. The hard drive is detected as RAW even though it has been formatted. What to do? RAW hard drive partition

Unfortunately, sometimes you can encounter a situation when a user turns on a computer or laptop, and instead of some logical partition, a disk with an incomprehensible RAW format is displayed. Let's try to find out what this is. At the same time, let's look at some of the simplest ways to convert this format into a normal form.

RAW format: what is it?

If we talk about a format of this type, you need to clearly understand that, in fact, this is not even a format in the usual sense. This is a modified file system type.

When accessing such a section, you can note two types of problems that arise. Firstly, the volume may not be displayed at all in the file manager. And secondly, even if it is visible, then either there are no files on it, or the system suggests immediate formatting, since the file system is incompatible with the operating system (RAW format of HDD drives). How to fix this situation? You need to choose the right approach, because formatting a partition and destroying even non-displayed data is not the best option.

Why are HDD formats changing?

Before proceeding to solve the problem directly, it is necessary to clarify the reasons for changing the section structure. In general, it is generally accepted among experts that the RAW format of HDD disks (how to fix it to readable will be discussed later), as a result, can appear, for example, under the influence of some viruses that purposefully change the file system, during a sudden power outage ( electricity) at the time of performing any operations that require direct access to the partition, etc.

Actually, after this, sometimes the disk can be visible even with the folders and files present on it, but performing operations, say, changing the volume label, formatting it using standard means, changing the size, and much more, becomes simply impossible. This happens because, roughly speaking, the file system changes or fatal errors appear in the partition table. However, there are several solutions on what to do if RAW format HDDs appear in the system. Let's take a closer look at how to correct this situation.

Correction method

Now let's look at the main aspects of the remediation processes. As is probably already clear, HDD recovery as the main task uses a solution that allows you to bring the partition’s file system into a form that would be perceived by the operating system itself (FAT32, NTFS, etc.). Please note that in most cases, even rolling back the system to a previous state does not give the desired result, so it is not worth doing this. It's just a waste of time.

To begin with, you can try to make sure that the section displays files and folders, which in some cases makes it possible to copy them to another location, for example, to the same removable media.

How to make files visible and copy them to another location?

In this case, the RAW format is processed using a very interesting utility called MiniTool Power Data Recovery (the program belongs to the class of shareware).

After installation, you need to launch the Lost Partition Recovery module in the application, select the required partition and run a Full Scan. When the process is complete, the program window will display a list of all available files. All you have to do is mark the required data and click the Save button. The application will prompt you to select a location where the selected files will be copied. Specify it and activate the process. After this, you can start formatting the partition. If the procedure is not available, proceed to the next step.

The simplest way to restore the format using the system

Now let's look at how to convert RAW to NTFS using Windows' own tools (especially since this is what this solution is best suited for).

First, you should launch the command line (cmd) from the Run menu (Win + R). Please note that HDD recovery can only be done in this way; a standard partition scan in a Windows environment will not give any results.

Now it all comes down to just typing the command chkdsk “drive letter”: /f (for example, in the case of drive D, it will look like chkdsk d: /f) - and pressing the enter key. All that remains is to wait for the process to complete, during which the file system will be restored, and reboot the system.

By the way, this method is ideal for system drives in file systems that previously had an NTFS structure. Only when using this technique will the computer terminal or laptop need to be booted from a boot or recovery disk.

Correcting the format using the TestDisk utility

At this stage, we will consider another aspect of the topic “RAW format of HDD disks: how to fix it.” TestDisk (a utility for quickly restoring the original format) is best suited. The main advantage of this application is that it does not require installation. Because it comes in a portable version. Minus - it does not have a Russified interface and works in a DOS-like mode.

So, let's start restoring the HDD. At the first stage after starting the program, you need to select the creation of a new log file (Create item) and press the enter key. Then, use the arrows to select the desired disk or partition, after which the application will automatically determine the type of partition table (it can be changed manually, but I don’t think this should be done).

Next, you need to first use the analysis line (Analyse), and then quick search (Quick Search). After each action, press Enter. When the lost partition is found, you should use the option to save the structure (Write). Otherwise, if the desired section is not displayed in the list of search results, you should use Deeper Search, and then follow the steps just described to save the structure. Now, as in the previous option, you just need to restart your computer or laptop. The problem should go away.

Using Ontrack EasyRecovery

Here is another program that allows you to convert the RAW format of HDD disks. How can I fix it using this utility? As easy as pie.

In principle, the application works almost similarly to the TestDisk program, but many users can be attracted by the fact that it has a beautiful and user-friendly interface. By the way, many experts call this software product an indispensable tool when it is necessary to recover large disk partitions. The only negative is that the program is paid, but I think this is not a problem for our people. In the vastness of the Runet you can easily find activation keys, patches, and key generators for it.

Conclusion

What's the result? At the moment, the RAW format of HDD disks has been considered. I think it’s already clear how to fix it so it’s readable by the system. As for what exactly to apply depends on the specific situation. For example, if formatting using your own means is possible, you can display the files and copy them to another location. This is, so to speak, to be absolutely sure. You can also use the command to scan and restore the partition to its original state, which is provided in the system itself, but this process can take a very long time if the volume is large enough.

On the other hand, third-party utilities, described just above, are also perfect for simplifying user actions. Another thing is that some users will not accept the DOS interface of the TestDisk application. However, it is easy to get used to it. Moreover, as already mentioned, this is a portable version, which means you can always have it on hand and run it from the same flash drive. If you don’t like it, please use the similar Ontrack EasyRecovery application with a graphical shell. True, some may object to the question of cost, but here it is worth deciding for yourself what is more important: money or a hard drive with the information stored on it? In addition, among all such utilities, these two are the most powerful, and sometimes you won’t get high-quality results from free software. However, the choice is up to the users themselves.

Raw file system and how to return ntfs

Today we’ll look at how the raw format of hdd disks appears, what the RAW file system is, why it is needed, and what to do if one of your disks is determined to be invalid, not marked up, not formatted, or damaged. We will also consider what to do if it says that “chkdsk is not valid for RAW disks” when trying to correct the situation using the operating system.

The RAW file system is implicitly present in NT operating systems from Windows Corporation. It was created with a single purpose - to provide applications and operating systems with data about the size of the current volume and the name of the file system (FS) used on it. If you received a RAW partition on a hard or solid-state drive (flash drive, SSD), this means that the file system of this volume or drive was not recognized by any file system driver installed in the environment used by Windows. That is, the file placement structure is clearly different from NTFS and FAT/FAT32. The consequence of this is errors such as:

• a message that the drive/partition is not formatted in a known file system;
• there is no possibility of normal access to the device/partition;
• The disk file system has been damaged.

If one of the above-described alerts appears, further work with the volume is impossible either in read mode or, especially, in write mode.

Sources of the problem

Most often, such an error appears on a flash drive due to improper handling or wear of the device, but for hard drives, especially removable ones, the problem is very relevant. Its sources in most cases are:

• malicious applications that interfere with the file table or volume structure;
• partial damage to the boot sector or volume file table;
• damage to the file table, which contains information about all stored data;
• physical damage to sectors of a volume causes a type of file system called RAW to appear;
• Incorrect removal of the flash drive or abnormal operating modes of the device (voltage surges, loss of electricity, or improper shutdown of the PC).

Disk or partition treatment options

Depending on the reasons why the RAW format appeared instead of FAT/NTFS, there are many methods to gain access to the information stored on the device.

Checking the volume for bad sectors and errors

The first step that should be taken if the file system of a disk or flash drive is detected as RAW is to check for damage on the drive or its logical partition. For the case where the system volume is not detected, this recommendation will not work, but in other situations you should start with it.
We call the command line on behalf of an account that has system administrator privileges through WinX or the search bar.

In the black window, execute a command like: “chkdsk x: /f /r”.
In this case:
x: - target volume;
/f – flag responsible for error correction;
/r – the argument will allow you to find and fix bad sectors.

We wait for the operation to complete and try to open the problematic volume.
If the error “chkdsk is not valid for RAW disks” appears as in the screenshot, it means that the target volume is the system volume, and to check it we do the following.
Starting a PC from Windows installation media of the same edition and bit depth.
On the language selection screen, click “Next”.

Go to the diagnostics section and open the list of advanced parameters.

Launch the command line.

Let's select "diskpart".
Using the “listvolume” command we find out the letter of the problematic volume.
Exit diskpart by entering “exit” and confirming its execution with the “Enter” button.
Execute a command like “chkdsk x: /f /r”.

This way, you can regain control of the disk without losing any data.

In this case, the inscription "chkdsk is not valid for RAW disks" should not appear, if this happens again - go to the next subsection of the article.

Checking the integrity of files in the OS itself

Often, to convert RAW to NTFS, you just need to reanimate system files. This is no more difficult than searching for damaged drive partitions.
Call the “Run” window using the Win + R combination.
Execute “cmd” to launch the command line.
We execute "sfc / scannow" to launch a utility that will find and fix errors in the operating system.

We format a section if there is no important information on it

A RAW disk or flash drive that does not have any files on it (let’s say you just purchased the device), is missing important data, or is duplicated, can be easily converted from RAW to NTFS using Windows.
Open the “Run” window using the Win+R key combination.
Execute the line “diskmgmt.msc” to launch the disk management utility.
Using the context menu of the problem section, call the “Format” command.

We set the desired label and decide on the file system (it is better to choose NTFS), then click “OK”.
If a removable hard drive (its partition or flash drive) is not formatted, try disconnecting the removable device, if it is one, and then connecting it and trying again. In the case of an HDD, restart your PC and be sure to end all programs that may be using the problematic volume.
Now you know how to fix the RAW format of HDD and flash drives, but the formatted storage medium will not contain the original data. If the option to format a drive or disk is not suitable, move on.

HDD RAW Copy Tool

The HDD RAW Copy Tool utility is designed for sector-by-sector copying of media and allows you to extract all data from the problematic device without data loss.
Download the utility from the official application support resource.
Install and launch the HDD RAW Copy Tool and wait until the partitions detected on the PC appear in the main frame.
We select the problematic device from which we will subsequently recover information (a file system defined as RAW has appeared on it).

Click “Continue”.
We specify the file type as *.img to create an image of the recoverable disk.
Here it should be taken into account that when specifying the image storage path where all the files from the RAW disk will fit, there must be more free space than the volume/drive itself that we will copy.

We return to the HDD RAW Copy Tool interface, where we click “Continue” again.

After this, you can safely open the generated image through a data recovery program that supports working with images, for example, R-Studio, and begin restoring the necessary data, and format the just copied media to NTFS.
We will not describe how to recover data from an image due to the large amount of information, which will be enough for another similar article.
On this HDD RAW Copy Tool you can close it.

DMDE

Although the previous method is highly reliable, working with the original source is much safer and more reliable. Let's look at how to resuscitate important files if a RAW format appears for one of the HDDs. Here we will do without formatting, so if some disk has become RAW, using the method described below you can easily access all its files.
Go to dmde.ru and download the DMDE utility, which allows you to read a disk in a format such as RAW and restore it.
Working with the program consists of the following sequence of steps.
Select the physical disk where the partition with the raw file system is located, checking the “Physical” option. devices."

When we find the required partition, select it and click “Open Volume”.
If this does not happen, we scan the media, the file system of one of the partitions of which has become defined as RAW.

We open the volume and look at its contents to see if the files are on it.

If everything is correct, click “Restore” and confirm the restoration of the boot sector.

If everything happens properly, after a short time the DMDE program will recover the lost partition without making any changes and return it to the previous file system.

Attention! If the system volume was problematic and recovery was performed by booting from another disk or after installing the media on another computer, you will additionally have to resuscitate the bootloader.

TestDisk

The TestDisk program is the most difficult to use, but it also performs the best recovery of volumes with RAW file system. Having launched the installed application, perform the following steps:

Click “Create”, then select the target partition.

We decide on the partition type, if this does not happen automatically (MBR or progressive GPT).
Click on “Analyze” and press “Enter”.
On the next screen, press “Enter” again, selecting “Quick Search”.
Find a partition for data recovery from a disk with the RAW file system.
To view the files stored on it, press the Latin “P”, exit the preview mode by pressing the “Q” button. If the partition is marked P, it can be restored; volumes marked D will not be restored.

Make sure that the table shown on the screen, which she will be after resuscitation, is correct.
Here you should be confident in the correctness of your choice, but you shouldn’t become a coward and do nothing either.
Select “Write” and confirm the action by clicking “Y” in order to perform RAW recovery.

The change will take effect after restarting Windows.

At this point, the topic “how to change the file system if the disk is in RAW format” can be considered fully covered. As you can see, there are absolutely no difficulties in solving the problem.

Hello.

This is how you work with a hard drive, you work, and then suddenly you turn on the computer - and you see a picture in oil: the disk is not formatted, the file system is RAW, no files are visible and nothing can be copied from it. What to do in this case ( By the way, there are a lot of questions of this kind, which is how the topic of this article was born)?

Well, first of all, don’t panic and don’t rush, and don’t agree with Windows suggestions (unless, of course, you know 100% what these or those operations mean). It’s better to turn off your PC altogether for now (if you have an external hard drive, disconnect it from your computer or laptop).

Reasons for the appearance of the RAW file system

The RAW file system means that the disk is not partitioned (i.e. “raw”, if translated literally), there is no file system specified on it. This can happen for many reasons, but most often it is:

• a sudden power shutdown while the computer is running (for example, you turned off the lights, then turned them on - the computer rebooted, and then you see a RAW disk on the disk and a proposal to format it);
• if we are talking about an external hard drive, then this often happens to them when, when copying information to them, the USB cable is disconnected (it is recommended: always before disconnecting the cable, in the tray (next to the clock), press the button to safely disconnect the drive);
• if you do not work correctly with programs for changing hard drive partitions, formatting them, etc.;
• Also, very often, many users connect their external hard drives to the TV - it formats them in its own format, and then the PC cannot read it, showing the RAW system (to read such a disk, it is better to use special utilities that can read the file system of the disk , into which the TV/TV set-top box formatted it);
• when your PC is infected with virus applications;
• in the event of a “physical” malfunction of the piece of hardware (it’s unlikely that anything can be done on your own to “save” the data)…

If the reason for the appearance of the RAW file system is an incorrect disconnection of the disk (or a power outage, an incorrect shutdown of the PC), then in most cases, the data can be safely recovered. In other cases, the chances are lower, but they still exist :).

Case 1: Windows is loading, the data on the disk is not needed, just to quickly restore the drive’s functionality

The easiest and fastest way to get rid of RAW is to simply format the hard drive to a different file system (exactly what Windows offers us).

Attention! During formatting, all information on the hard drive will be deleted. Be careful, and if you have the necessary files on the disk, resorting to this method is not recommended.

It is best to format a disk from the system disk management(not always and not all disks are visible in “my computer”; besides, in disk management you will immediately see the entire structure of all disks).

To open it, just go to Windows control panel, then open the section ““, then in the subsection “ Administration» open link « Creating and formatting hard drive partitions"(as in Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. System and security (Windows 10).

Next, select the disk that has the RAW file system and format it (you just need to right-click on the desired partition of the disk, then select the “Format” option from the menu, see Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Formatting the disk in the exercise. disks.

After formatting, the disk will be like “new” (without files) - you can now write everything you need onto it (and don’t suddenly disconnect it from the electricity :)).

Case 2: Windows boots (RAW file system is not on the Windows drive)

If you need files on the disk, then formatting the disk is highly not recommended! First you need to try to check the disk for errors and correct them - in most cases the disk starts working as usual. Let's look at the steps step by step.

1) First go to disk management (Control Panel/System and Security/Administration/Creating and formatting hard drive partitions ), see above in the article.

2) Remember the drive letter on which you have the RAW file system.

3) Launch command line on behalf of the administrator. In Windows 10, this is done simply: right-click on the START menu, and in the pop-up menu select “ Command Line (Administrator)«.

5) After entering the command, checking and correcting errors, if any, should begin. Quite often, at the end of the scan, Windows will tell you that the errors have been fixed and no further action is required. This means you can start working with the disk; in this case, the RAW file system changes to your previous one (usually FAT 32 or NTFS).

Rice. 4. There are no errors (or they have been fixed) - everything is in order.

Case 3: Windows won't boot (RAW on Windows disc)

1) What to do if there is no installation disk (flash drive) with Windows ...

In this case, there is a simple solution: remove the hard drive from the computer (laptop) and insert it into another computer. Next, check it for errors on another computer (see above in the article) and if they are corrected, continue to use it.

You can also resort to another option: take a boot disk from someone and install Windows on another disk, and then, after booting from it, check the one that is marked as RAW.

2) If the installation disk is ...

Everything is much simpler :). First, we boot from it, and instead of installing, select system recovery (this link is always in the lower left corner of the window at the beginning of the installation, see Fig. 5).

Next, in the recovery menu, find command line and launch it. In it, we need to run a check on the hard drive on which Windows is installed. How to do this, because the letters have changed, because we booted from a flash drive (installation disk)?

1. Quite simple: first launch notepad from the command line (command notepad and look in it for which drives and with which letters. Remember the drive letter on which you have Windows installed).

2. Then close notepad and run the scan using the already known method: chkdsk d: /f (and ENTER).

By the way, usually the drive letter is shifted by 1: i.e. if the system drive is “C:”, then when booting from the installation disk, it becomes the letter “D:”. But this is not always the case, there are exceptions!

If the above methods did not help, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with TestDisk. Quite often it helps in solving problems with hard drives.

If you need to retrieve deleted data from your hard drive (or flash drive), I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the list of the most famous data recovery programs: ( make sure you pick something).

Best wishes!

A “healthy” storage device has an NTFS file system (if it is a hard drive or external storage device) or FAT (if it is a flash drive). The corresponding entry can be seen in the properties. When it fails, you can see the RAW mark in this place, which means “raw, raw.” This data format has become generally accepted. It allows you to save files, but does not allow you to work with them normally.

Reasons for the appearance of RAW

Errors leading to loss of data of various formats and types:

• Power surges, improper shutdown of the computer, malfunctions of the uninterruptible power supply unit, other hardware,
• The consequences of a virus infection, which are rare, but can destroy the NTFS file system,
• Failure caused by physical damage. After scanning, in this case it is necessary to identify bad sectors with a special program (MHDD, Victoria).

What to do with a RAW file system

If such a problem became relevant for you when the partitions of the previously existing NTFS were destroyed, then the OS denies access, stops displaying information about the equipment: “it doesn’t see”, and also requires you to format the disk. Under no circumstances should you do this, at least until all methods of saving data have been tried.

Methods for restoring the hard drive file system

We recommend that you first try the standard method of resuscitating the hard drive:

(Checkingdisk - disk check). This is a Windows tool for testing and repairing NTFS partition table. Since it's possible that Windows won't start in case of a crash, CHKDSK is activated by typing on the command line:

• Press the key combination Cntrl + R,
• In the Run window that appears, type CMD
• At the command prompt, enter: chkdsk (drive name): /f
  
• You will receive a message stating that verification cannot be performed. Agree to perform a reboot check (Y) and reboot the PC.
  

These actions start scanning for errors and correcting them on the hard drive. If you need to overcome RAW on an external drive, then enter “chkdsk (name): /f” into the search bar that appears when you click the “Start” button.

The process of finding and correcting errors will definitely take a lot of time. How much is difficult to say. This depends on the size of the hard drive, the formats used and the extent of the damage. We recommend not to fuss and wait for another PC reboot, which will happen without your participation. If the file system has been successfully restored, then it is now possible to boot the computer in normal mode.

Next you should check the integrity of Windows itself:

Alternative Ways to Deal with RAW

If you have done all of the above, but the result is not marked as NTFS in the properties, then still do not rush to format. There are several programs that, in many cases, will be more effective than the standard CHKDSK.

1. Try TestDisk, a free data recovery utility. This program will be able to adjust the partition table and restore “lost” partitions, rebuild the NTFS boot sector. It works with almost any operating system and any format. When working with TestDisk, you will need administrator rights.
2. is a powerful recovery program that fixes all commonly used file system types. It searches for and recognizes unreadable hard drive partitions using the advanced IntelliRAW algorithm. R.saver does not require installation on a PC and works with various formats.
3. Recuva is a free popular program with a user-friendly interface that will return the file system to its original state. Often used by beginners. It has the function of searching and restoring information of a certain type and format: only photos, or only text files.

general information

Has your hard drive or partition suddenly become a RAW file system and can't access the stored data? No worries! Take advantage of the best data recovery software for RAW devices and convert RAW to NTFS without losing data.

If you need to restore a RAW partition to NTFS or convert RAW to NTFS on your storage devices, then we suggest you read our article. There is no more reason to worry when your storage devices such as Windows partition, hard drive, USB drive, SD card or others are detected as RAW, you can easily recover files and convert them from RAW to NTFS right now.

Why do you need to convert RAW to NTFS?

When a volume is damaged and detected as RAW, or you receive failure messages such as "Unhandled Error", you have the option to convert the media back to the NTFS file system. Below are some signs that the drive has converted to the RAW file system:

1. Volume X: “Not formatted. Do you want to format it now?"

2. Drive on media X: "Not formatted."

3. An error occurred accessing disk X: "The disk is not formatted."

4. The CHKDSK tool will notify you that it cannot repair the RAW file system.

5. File system type - RAW.

6. CHKDSK is not available for raw (RAW) discs.

If one of the above symptoms appears, you need to convert RAW to NTFS by formatting. This is the only way to fix a RAW disk in NTFS. But how can you do this without losing your data? Most users believe that it will be possible to return lost and inaccessible files after converting a RAW disk to NTFS, which is not at all true. You should use data recovery software to first recover files from the raw drive. Therefore, when you are going to convert a RAW disk to NTFS, format it only after the data has been completely restored.

How to convert RAW to NTFS without data loss

First: Recover data from raw partition

To recover files from a RAW disk, try EaseUS hard drive recovery software. Our program allows you to completely recover data from a RAW disk or volume in Windows 10/8/7/Vista, etc.

If you need to convert RAW volumes to NTFS, it is highly recommended to use this tool first to recover all your files first. When formatting directly, you will lose all data. Now, let's see exactly how the data recovery process goes before converting RAW to NTFS.

Step 1. Specify a RAW disk

Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your Windows PC or laptop.
Launch the software. Make sure Windows has detected your raw drive and has the correct drive letter.
Left click on the RAW disk and then click the "Scan" button.

Step 2Scan Data on a RAW Disk

The program will begin scanning the entire drive for data, gradually displaying files in the results as the scan progresses.

Tip: Users can pause the scan process for instant recovery once the files they need appear. But it's better to wait until the scan is completed.

Step 3: Check the Additional Files Tab

In addition to the general results of scanning all lost data on the selected disk, the “Additional files” tab will display RAW media files: disks/USB devices/microSD cards, which will also be possible to recover.
If necessary, it is worth checking all scan results. Select the files you need and click the "Recover" button, saving them in another location.

Second: converting RAW to NTFS format

After completing these steps, all files from the RAW disk will be successfully restored.
And then you can convert RAW disk to NTFS without worrying about the data loss problem.

1. Open My Computer > find RAW media;
2. Right-click on it, select Format> select file system-NTFS, and also rename the disk;
3. Click Start > OK.

After this, your personal files on the RAW disk or storage device will be easily restored, and you can easily convert the RAW partition to NTFS and resume using it.

Microsoft Solution: Convert RAW to NTFS using Command Prompt (cmd)
Recover RAW file system to NTFS

This method is mainly offered by Microsoft to convert a hard drive or partition from RAW to NTFS using Command Prompt(cmd). If you have any important data on the media, be sure to restore it first.

1. Open Command Prompt > click Run as Administrator;
You may be required to enter a password or provide confirmation for this method.
2. Type: convert X(drive letter): /fs:ntfs and press Enter;
3. Enter: M(name of the partition or disk you want to convert to NTFS) and press Enter;
After which you should wait a little, the partition will be automatically converted from RAW to NTFS.