Unfortunately, sometimes you can come across a situation when a user turns on a computer or laptop, and instead of a logical partition, a disk is displayed that has an incomprehensible RAW format. Let's try to find out what it is. At the same time, we will consider some of the simplest ways to convert this format to normal form.
RAW format: what is it?
If we talk about this type of format, 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 this section, two types of problems can be noted. Firstly, the volume may not be displayed at all in the file manager. And secondly, even if it is visible, then there are either no files on it, or the system offers to perform immediate formatting, since the file system is incompatible with the operating system (RAW format of HDD disks). How to fix this situation? You need to choose the right approach, because formatting a partition with the destruction of even non-displayed data is not the best option.
Why are HDD formats changing?
Before proceeding with the solution of the problem directly, it is necessary to clarify the reasons for changing the structure of the section. 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 consequence, may appear, for example, when exposed to certain viruses that change the file system purposefully, when the power is suddenly turned off ( electricity) at the time of performing any operations that require direct access to the section, etc.
Actually, after that, sometimes the disk can be seen even with the folders and files present on it, but it becomes simply impossible to perform operations, say, to change the volume label, format it using standard means, resize and much more. This is because, roughly speaking, the file system changes or fatal errors appear in the partition table. Nevertheless, there are several solutions as to what to do if RAW-format HDD disks appear in the system. Let us consider in more detail how to fix this situation.
Correction method
Now let's look at the main aspects of the process of correcting the situation. As it is probably already clear, HDD recovery as the main task uses a solution that allows you to bring the file system of a partition into a form that would be perceived by the operating system itself (FAT32, NTFS, etc.). 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 files and folders are displayed in the section, which in some cases makes it possible to copy them to another location, for example, to the same removable media.
How do I make files visible and copy them to another location?
Processing the RAW format in this case is done using a very interesting utility called MiniTool Power Data Recovery (the program belongs to the class of shareware).
After installation in the application, you need to launch the Lost Partition Recovery module, select the desired partition and run a Full Scan. When the process is complete, the program window will display a list of all available files. It remains to mark the necessary data and click the Save button. The application will prompt you to select the location where the selected files will be copied. Specify it and activate the process. After that, you can start formatting the section. If the procedure is not available, proceed to the next step.
The easiest way to restore format using the system
Now let's dwell on how to convert RAW to NTFS using native Windows tools (especially since this is the best solution for such a solution).
First you need to run the command line (cmd) from the Run menu (Win + R). Note that HDD recovery can be done only in this way; standard partition check in Windows environment will not give results.
Now it all comes down to just writing the command chkdsk "drive letter": / f (for example, in the case of the D drive it will look like chkdsk d: / f) - and press the enter key. It remains to wait for the completion of the process, during which the file system will be restored, and reboot the system.
By the way, this method is perfectly suitable for system disks in file systems that previously had an NTFS structure. Only when using this technique, you will need to boot a computer terminal or laptop from a boot or recovery disk.
Correcting the format using the TestDisk utility
At this stage, we will consider one more 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 biggest plus of this app is that it doesn't require installation. Since it comes as a portable version. Minus - does not have a Russified interface and works in a mode like DOS.
So, let's start recovering 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 the arrows select the desired disk or partition, after which the application will automatically determine the type of the partition table (you can change it manually, but I think you shouldn't).
The next step is to use the Analyze string first, and then the Quick Search. After each action, Enter is pressed. When the lost partition is found, use the Write structure item. Otherwise, if the required section is not displayed in the list of search results, you should enable deep scanning (Deeper Search), and then follow the steps just described to save the structure. Now, as in the previous version, 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? Easy peasy.
In principle, the application works almost similarly to the TestDisk program, but it can attract many users by the fact that it has a beautiful and convenient interface. By the way, many experts call this software an indispensable tool when you need to recover large disk partitions. The only drawback is that the program is paid, but I think this is not a problem for our person. On the open spaces of the Runet, you can easily find activation keys, patches, and key generators for it.
Conclusion
What's the bottom line? At the moment, the RAW format of HDD disks has been considered. How to fix it to readable by the system, I think, is already clear. What exactly to use depends on the specific situation. Suppose, if formatting by native means is possible, you can display the files and copy to another location. This is, so to speak, to be absolutely certain. You can also use the command to check and restore a 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, to simplify user actions, the third-party utilities described just above are perfect. 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 that you can always have it at hand and run it from the same flash drive. If you do not like it, please use a similar Ontrack EasyRecovery application with a graphical shell. True, some may object about the question of cost, but here it is worth deciding for yourself which is more important: money or a hard drive with information stored on it? In addition, among all such utilities, these two are the most powerful, and sometimes you will not get a high-quality result from free software. However, the choice is up to the users themselves.
How to recover data from a disk or partition whose file system is detected as RAW?
First, the answer is, what is a RAW file system?
In fact, the RAW file system does not exist, and defining the file system of a partition as RAW means that none of the file system drivers installed in the operating system recognized the file system name of a disk or partition.
If the file system of the disk is recognized as RAW, data reading, assigning a volume label and other operations with this partition become impossible.
At the same time, the operating system displays the size of the partition and, when accessing it, offers to format it.
RAW hard drive
Figure: 1 Hard disk displayed as RAW
If the operating system cannot recognize the file system of the hard disk, it will display it as RAW. In this case, the user will not have access to data or disk partitions.
However, its capacity, free and used space will be displayed as "0" (zero). This means that all data from the disk has been lost.
They are not available to the user for viewing or copying.
RAW hard disk partition
There are times when, as a result of a virus attack or damage, only one of the disk partitions will be displayed as RAW.
When you try to open such a drive, Windows will report an error and the need to format it.
Formatting such a section will make it available for further use, but will lead to the loss of all data stored on it.
Reasons why a hard disk or partition can become RAW
The reasons can be very diverse, but if you generalize them, the following can be called the main ones.
For the entire disk:
- Drive connection or cable problems. Sometimes a hard drive can be detected as RAW if its connection cable is damaged or there is a bad contact in the connector.
- Broken sectors. The presence of a large number of bad sectors on a disk can damage its file system.
- Damage to the structure of the file system. Besides a large number of bad sectors, the file system can also be damaged for other reasons.
- Partition table corruption. Regardless of the reason for the corruption of the partition table, if it is damaged, the entire disk will be detected as RAW.
- Reinstall or restore the operating system.
- As a result of exposure to viruses. Malicious software can change or delete important settings or information on the hard drive.
For a disk partition:
- Viruses. Virus programs can, for example, damage the part of the hard disk partition table, which indicates the beginning and end of the partition.
- Reinstall Windows.
- The number of hard drives and partitions. Too many disks and partitions on your computer can lead to RAW partitions.
RAW disk recovery methods
If Windows is booting and the data from the RAW disk is of no value to the user.
This is the easiest and fastest way to restore the health of a RAW disk or partition.
In this case, it is enough just to format it to be able to use it in the future.
Of course, it does not imply saving or restoring data, but the user must understand that such a possibility exists.
In case Windows reports an error and needs to format it, just click the "Format Disk" button.
Fig. 2 Formatting the disk
If the operating system does not inform the user about the error, but after checking the disk properties, you can see that the file system is missing or the disk is not displayed in the This computer folder, then you can format it using the Disk Management menu (Fig. 3).
To do this, go to Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start menu.
In the window that opens, find the disk with the RAW file system (it will be signed this way), right-click on it and select Format.
If Windows boots and data from the RAW disk is important not to lose.
If the data of a disk or partition is important to you, which is defined as RAW, then do not rush to format it.
First, try checking such a disk for errors and fixing them. This can restore its functionality.
For this:
- Go to Disk Management (see above).
- Take note of the RAW drive letter.
Note: if the drive does not have a letter, assign it to it. To do this, right-click on the required disk and select "Change drive letter or path to disk" (Fig. 4).
- Run Command Prompt as administrator. To do this, right-click on the Start menu and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
- Enter the command chkdsk D: / f (instead of D: - specify your drive letter) and press Enter (Fig. 5).
- After running the command, the process of checking and correcting errors will begin. Often, after checking, Windows reports that all errors have been fixed. After that, try to go to your disk again, the RAW file system should change to the one that was originally (FAT or NTFS).
If Windows does NOT boot, and the drive where the operating system is installed is detected as RAW.
If the user does not have an installation disk:
- it is necessary to disconnect the hard drive from the computer and connect it to another. Using another computer, this hard drive can be checked for errors using the method described above or scanned using a data recovery program.
If an installation disc is available:
- Boot your computer using the installation disc and select the Repair your computer function instead of installing.
- In the recovery menu, find and select Command Prompt. Use it to check for errors on the disk on which Windows is installed.
For this:
- Enter the Notepad command at the Command prompt. As a result of this command, a Notepad window will open in a new window.
- Select File / Open and check the presence and drive letters.
- Run the command line check and fix errors on the disk where the operating system is located.
Figure: 8 Running check and execution and disk errors from the command line
Recovering data from RAW disk using data recovery software
If none of the described methods restored the hard disk or partition to work, then another way to restore disk data is data recovery software.
Today there are a lot and variety of programs for data and file recovery.
But in this case, only the one that can recover information from a RAW disk or partition is suitable for the user.
That is, from a disk or partition from a missing or damaged file system.
Here you should pay attention to the so-called Raw Recovery or Partition Recovery programs.
The principle of their operation is similar, there may be differences in some functions and interface.
For clarity, let's look at the process of recovering data from a RAW partition using Hetman Partition Recovery(the program can be downloaded from the developer's website).
After the user starts the program, he will be presented with a list of all disks and partitions on the computer. It is necessary to select the RAW-section and double-click on it.
In our case, this is Disk (E :).
A feature of the program is that it recovers data from disks or partitions with any file system that it detects automatically, without the need for additional settings by the user.
That is, the user just needs to select the required type of analysis in the next window and wait for it to end (in this case, it is recommended to carry out the "Full analysis").
Depending on the size of the scanned disk, the analysis process can take from 15 minutes to several hours.
As a result, the program will display all the detected files and put them into folders, in accordance with the extensions of the files found.
Transfer the necessary files to the recovery list and click “Recover”, if you want to view or listen to them in the preview window.
Also, how to recover data from other storage media.
Dedicated to recovering data from NTFS volumes, this tool is perfect for solving isolated cases and single incidents with system disks and hard drives. Offered at a discount compared to our top of the line tool, Magic NTFS Recovery is a perfect bargain for complex data loss situations occurring in NTFS-only environments.
Free DownloadMagic NTFS Recovery fixes broken file systems and restores partitions
Magic NTFS Recovery offers a quick, easy way to reliably recover information from badly damaged, corrupted and inaccessible disks and partitions. From simple undelete to bit-precise restoration of affected disk system structures, Magic NTFS Recovery can handle any type of data recovery jobs. Fully automated performance, quick and comprehensive recovery modes with smart content-aware analysis make Magic NTFS Recovery a winner.
Magic NTFS Recovery delivers all features offered by Magic’s top-of-the-line product, Magic Partition Recovery, except the ability to restore FAT and FAT32 media. As Windows XP, Vista and Windows 10 will format new disks with NTFS and will only run on NTFS partitions, Magic NTFS Recovery is a true bargain at only half the price of the company’s flagship tool.
Features and Benefits
Magic NTFS Recovery effectively handles hard disks, flash and SSD drives with major issues. The tool can reliably locate and recovers deleted files and data missing on damaged partitions, optionally rebuilding the damaged disk complete with original files and folder structure.
Recovering Files and Data
- Unerases deleted files from healthy, formatted and damaged NTFS partitions;
- Quick scan mode undeletes files in minutes;
- Comprehensive mode features trademark content-aware analysis for in-depth recovery.
Rebuilding Disks and Partitions
- Refurbishes damaged partitions by rebuilding the file system based on information collected with content-aware analysis;
- Restores formatted partitions and repartitioned drives;
- Recovers media to “as new” state perfect for long-term use.
With all the powerful features under the hood, Magic NTFS Recovery is designed to be used safely by non-pros. The tool offers an easy way of fixing common issues and repairing serious problems.
A fully guided, step-by-step wizard will assist you in fixing all types of damage from recovering individual files to refurbishing broken partitions. The tool works strictly in read-only mode, keeping the possibility of accidental damage as close to zero as reasonably possible. In fact, Magic NTFS Recovery will try to reduce the number of disk access operations in order to preserve damaged disks and hard drives with lots of bad sectors.
Undelete Files in Minutes
Featuring two analysis modes, Quick and Comprehensive, Magic NTFS Recovery can recover recently deleted files in just minutes.
Refurbish Broken Partitions
Magic NTFS Recovery can re-create corrupted file systems complete with original files and folders, effectively rebuilding broken partitions from scratch.
Once Magic NTFS Recovery finishes searching for recoverable files, you’l see the file list in a familiar Explorer-like setting. Click on a file to see an instant preview. The preview will display pictures, play back audio, open compressed archives and display office documents complete with formatting and embedded objects.
The ability to perform
Content-Aware Analysis
The proprietary content-aware analysis is used in comprehensive scan mode to locate as many recoverable files as possible. Content-aware analysis scans the entire disk surface, looking for traces of known file types on the disk as well as in the file system. The algorithm enables surefooted recovery when all other methods fail.
Magic NTFS Recovery will only recover NTFS volumes, including NTFS streams. Use Magic NTFS Recovery to recover hard disks, SSD drives and some USB flash drives formatted by Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Most memory cards used in digital cameras and portable audio players will bear the FAT32 system; to recover memory cards, use Magic Partition Recovery or Magic FAT Recovery instead.
System Requirements
Magic NTFS Recovery supports Windows XP, Vista, Windows 10, 2003 and 2008 Server in 32-bit and 64-bit variations. The administrative privileges are required to run the program under MS Windows 10 / Vista / 2008 Server / XP / 2000 / NT / 2003.
Free Download
A free evaluation version of Magic NTFS Recovery is available free of charge. The free version performs all types of analysis and features instant pre-recovery preview, displaying the content of recoverable files in visual, WYSIWYG mode.
Restores information from any kind of a carrier
Magic NTFS Recovery can recover all types of files from all kinds of storage devices. Deleted files can be undeleted in a matter of moments with a quick file system scan. Files deleted directly or removed from the Recycle Bin can be restored in a matter of minutes regardless of their extension.
Thanks to the company’s content-aware analysis technology, hundreds of recognizable file types can be recovered even if the drive is formatted, repartitioned or unreadable. Even if the drive no longer appears as a drive letter, Magic NTFS Recovery can still analyze a physical storage device looking for missing partitions. Magic NTFS Recovery has been tested with a wide range of devices based on different storage technologies such as magnetic hard drives and flash-based solid-state drives. Magic NTFS Recovery can be used to recover files from hard disks and SSD drives, USB flash drives and most types of memory cards including full-size, mini and micro versions of SD / SDHC / SDHC cards, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, as well as the traditionally mentioned but obsolete formats such as MMC and xD.
Restores corrupted and unavailable partitions
Thanks to the use of content-aware analysis, Magic recovery tools can recover information from corrupted and inaccessible partitions, repartitioned hard drives and formatted volumes. Magic NTFS Recovery will perform a thorough scan of the entire physical drive in order to locate unavailable or deleted partitions, and then analyze the entire volume looking for recoverable files and folders. Magic NTFS Recovery will attempt to re-create the entire file and folder system complete with multiple-level folders and long file names, effectively restoring the content of the entire partition on a different disk or another storage media. After your data is completely recovered, you may attempt to recover the original broken partition by repairing the damaged system structures with scandisk (a Windows tool).
Using Magic NTFS Recovery on damaged disks is completely safe, as all access is performed strictly in read-only mode. Because of that, Magic NTFS Recovery will not mess your disk system structures or the file system.
Restores files from deleted and formatted drives
The data recovery tool supports the recovery from deleted partitions, formatted volumes and repartitioned hard drives. The tool scans the entire surface of the hard disk or reads the full content of a solid-state drive in order to reliably detect, locate and read the content of a deleted partition. If the disk has been formatted, the tool can read raw sectors from the disk in an attempt to detect the beginning of multiple known file types. During this process, the tool will not need the file system to be present, and will successfully restore the files even if the file system is emptied by the format operation.
Deleted partitions can be similarly detected by reading blocks of raw data from the disk surface, matching and analyzing raw data structures in an attempt to detect the beginning and size of deleted partitions. Once all partitions are successfully detected, the tool can perform further analysis by accessing their file systems and reading files off deleted partitions. More often than not, deleted partitions are much less of a problem than formatted hard drives or deleted files.
Offers easy access to advanced features with Windows Explorer-like user interface
The wizard-based user interface is simple, convenient and straightforward. However, advanced users may need more flexibility in fine-tuning the process or configuring the settings. To allow advanced access to the internal data recovery mechanisms, we implemented a convenient Explorer-like user interface to go along with the wizards. This advanced user interface allows easy access to all the advanced features with the convenience of Windows Explorer-like performance. The familiar user interface will make seasoned computer users and computer professionals feel immediately at home, adjusting all the required settings with just a few mouse clicks.
In addition, by using the data recovery tool in Explorer-like mode you can browse through deleted files or navigating information stored on a deleted partition just like you would normally browse your computer. You can click deleted files to preview, mark them for recovery, and enter compressed archives as if they were folders.
Search files based on content (Content-aware analysis)
The entire family of Magic data recovery tools shares a set of sophisticated data recovery algorithms that can perform a search of recoverable information based on its content. The technology is called “content-aware analysis”, and allows not only undeleting files that were simply deleted, but also recovering files stored on formatted, corrupted and inaccessible disks and memory cards.
Unlike legacy data recovery algorithms that analyze the file system alone, content-aware analysis looks beyond the file system in its search for recoverable information. The technology reads all sectors on the disk, analyzing raw data in order to detect characteristic signatures of known file types. If the beginning of a file is detected, content-aware analysis will then analyze what appears to be a file header in order to calculate the length of the file. Based on this information, file's exact location on the disk can be derived, and the file itself can be successfully recovered even if no record about it appears in the file system. This allows recovering files from formatted partitions, corrupted, repartitioned and inaccessible disks.
What
others are
saying
My biggest thanks and warmest regards to developers! I was able to recover deleted documents from my colleague’s hard drive after almost a week. It’s a miracle I was not even hoping for! Kudos to developers! Steve swan
I formatted a hard drive to upgrade the OS. I installed 8, then upgraded to Windows 10, and then discovered the entire photo archive is missing. Downloaded this tool without much hope. The photos were back almost immediately! Daniel Thomas
Thank you! You’re my saviors! I restored a 3-year worth of work on my office computer without a sweat. Hundreds of documents, emails, databases. Would take years to type them back. You saved my job!
Cheers! Jane stalnaker
Some users may find it impossible to access their hard drive (or flash drive). In the operating system, such devices receive the "Raw" status, and their file structure becomes inaccessible to the user. In this article, I will consider this dysfunction in detail, tell you what to do in a situation when the file system is RAW, as well as how to return NTFS, FAT32, what tools will help us with this, and how to use them.
What is RAW file system
To understand that this is a RAW file system and how to return the NTFS, FAT32 format, it is necessary to determine the meaning of the term "RAW" itself. Translated from Shakespeare's language, the lexeme "Raw" means "raw", "raw material". Accordingly, in our case, this term refers to disks that are either not yet formatted, or the data structure on them is damaged (errors in the MBR partition table and MFT file table, viruses, PC hardware problems, etc.).
Simply put, RAW disks are disks that are not recognized by Windows for various reasons. Usually, in this case, Windows recommends formatting such a disk, which you just should not do, since the data on the disk will be lost due to formatting.
Reasons why a disk from NTFS and FAT32 becomes RAW
The reasons for the appearance of RAW disks instead of the usual NTFS and FAT32 file systems are as follows:
- Sudden disconnection of such disks (loss of voltage in the network, physical disconnection by the user, problems in the operation of the power supply, etc.), as a result of which the integrity and structure of the data on the disk is violated;
- Problems with the cables connecting the motherboard and the hard drive;
- The operation of virus programs that violate the integrity of the bootloader, partition table, file structure, and so on;
- Bad sectors on the hard drive, as a result of which the structure of the system on the hard disk is damaged;
- An error in installing or updating the operating system;
- Errors when working with various hard disk partition managers;
- Not tight connection of the USB flash drive with the PC USB connector (in the case of a flash drive);
- Problems in the work of the computer motherboard and so on.
How to recover NTFS, FAT32 from RAW
- Try to simply restart your computer, the problem may be random;
- Check the tightness of the connection of the cables to the hard drive, try using a different connector to connect the hard drive on the motherboard, as well as another USB connector of the computer when connecting an external flash drive;
- Use the capabilities of the built-in utility CHKDSK (). Run Command Prompt as administrator and type
chkdsk X: / f (where X is the letter of the RAW drive)
The "f" parameter stands for fixing errors on the disk, which means that the CHKDSK utility not only looks for problems, but also fixes them.
I also note that this command is relevant, first of all, for those disks that were formatted in the NTFS file system. In this case, if you cannot load the operating system, then boot using a bootable system disk or flash drive (you can use various assemblies "Live CD"), select "System Restore" there, go to "Advanced options" and then to "Command line" , and there type the above command.
If you cannot access the command line from your PC in any way, then it is recommended to connect your hard drive to another computer and check for errors on your drive from it.
- Use the capabilities of another system utility, sfc, designed to check the integrity of system files. Also run the command line as administrator, in it write:
sfc / scannow
and press enter.
- If you have access to the operating system, then it is worth checking your computer for viruses using special anti-virus programs (for example, Web CureIt! Or Malware-AntiMalware);
- If there is no important information on the problem disk (or it is not essential), then the problem disk (or flash drive) can be formatted. Click on the "Start" button, and in the search bar type diskmgmt.msc, the disk control panel will appear. Right-click on the raw disk and select "Format" from the pop-up menu.
If you have a RAW file system, return NTFS, FAT32 - using third-party programs
If you want to restore the NFTS and FAT32 file system, then you should use the functionality of special programs that will help us with this. I offer programs like Recuva and TestDisk.
Recuva
One of the popular programs for recovering lost files is Recuva. Download, install and run this product, select the option to restore all files, specify the problem disk, use the advanced analysis option and click on "Start".
After the scan is over, the program will display a list of found files, mark them with checkmarks and click on "Restore".
TestDisk
The second program that can help with the RAW file system is TestDisk.
- Download and install this program, run it as administrator.
- Select the "Create" command and press enter, select the raw disk with the cursor and press "Enter".
- After selecting the desired type of partition table, press enter, then select "Analyze" and "Quick Search" (a quick search for problematic sections will be carried out).
- After TestDisk finds the problem volumes, click on "Write" to write the structure of the found partition.
How to change the file system of a flash drive [video]
Above, I analyzed the problem when the file system is RAW. The most optimal tool for recovering NTFS, FAT32 is to use the system command CHKDSK, as well as special programs that can restore the file structure of a problem disk. If none of the tips I have proposed turned out to be effective for you, then I recommend contacting the service center - perhaps your hard drive has not software, but hardware problems, and it needs a thorough repair.
The hard disk of a normally functioning computer device is always formatted in the NTFS or FAT file system. If one of the HDD partitions starts working incorrectly, a record appears in the properties of the disk about converting its format to RAW. This means that the standard file system is damaged and needs to be restored. In practice, you can find out about such damage as follows. When accessing a disc, the disc does not open, and a message appears on the monitor to format it.
What does this message mean:
- The structure of the filesystem being used has been destroyed.
- There is no access to the contents of the hard disk.
- Writing invalid or corrupted data to the boot sector of the disk.
When you open the properties of the hard disk, you will notice that the section supposedly does not contain any information. In any case, it is necessary to perform a file system restore to recover the data on the disk.
What can cause the failure?
The reasons for the appearance of such a failure can be:
- Impact from a virus that has penetrated the computer.
- Fatal operating system failure.
- An incorrectly working program that replaces the original system files with its own files. This also includes "crooked" drivers.
- User errors when shutting down the computer. This is how the file system on flash drives gets damaged.
- External factors, as a result of which the file system can be damaged. In particular, frequent power outages can provoke a similar problem.
How can you restore the file system and information on the hard drive?
Despite the fact that the operating system will prompt you to format the damaged partition, it is better not to agree with such actions. However, if you were in a hurry and gave the command to format, all is not lost. However, in this case, it will be much more difficult to completely restore the contents of this section. First, you should restore all the information available on the faulty partition, and then restore the file system itself.
It is recommended to restore data and logical partition performance using RS Partition Recovery.
This program allows you to:
- Recover files from the HDD on which the file system was changed. That is, with RAW.
- Recover data from the hard drive that you formatted.
- Getting the most complete information from a logical partition that has been deleted.
- Full recovery of damaged partitions.
- Copying data from damaged partitions to other media.
- The program perfectly copes with the tasks on any medium.
Working with RS Partition Recovery
The program interface is quite simple. The main menu is divided into three main parts. On the left you can see a list of hard drives and logical partitions. The center shows the filling of disks with information, as well as information about the sizes of all disks. The files we have selected appear in the right column. The program even displays hidden files, as well as sections under control of other operating systems.
It's time to move on to direct data recovery using this wonderful program. To do this, just click on the upper left button labeled "Wizard". The wizard's menu will open before the user. The selected disk will be analyzed.
The program divides all partitions into three categories: logical, removable and hard drives. To restore data, you must select the appropriate section. Specify it and then click Next. You will be prompted to select the type of analysis.
The choice consists of two options:
- Fast scanning.
- Complete analysis.
- 1 filter will detect NTFS files. Most of the internal sections work in this space.
- 2 the filter will process files belonging to the FAT system. This formatting is more typical for removable media, but there are such files on the computer's hard drive. Linux OS also works with the FAT system.
- Deep analysis works independently of the file system. In the course of its work, the program simply finds on the disk all the files that were there at one time or are present at the moment. However, it is undesirable to use only in-depth analysis, as part of the information may be lost. It is best to parse a section using all three filters.
If you select a quick scan, some of the files will simply not be found. Only whole files will be found, without any signs of damage.
After the analysis is complete, the program will inform you how many folders and individual files were found in this section.
To view all the files found during the analysis, go to the main program menu by clicking the "Finish" button.
In the center of the program window you will see a folder named "Deep Analysis". Double-clicking on it will open the contents of the folder. In order to restore the selected files, you need to select them in this folder, and then click the "Restore" button on the top panel. This will offer the following choice of where to save them:
- To the hard drive.
- Removable media.
- Mount the image.
- Uploading to the Internet via FTP.
In this window, you should select the location for saving files, the option to restore the structure of deleted folders, as well as restore file streams to NTFS. After that, the "Restore" button is pressed. All found files will be restored to the location you specified.
recoverit.ru
How to get NTFS back from RAW file system without data loss?
What is RAW file system and how to recover NTFS format without data loss - in this article we will take a closer look at these issues, as well as recovery methods.
It often happens that after an incorrect shutdown of the computer, for example, if you unplugged the power cord or the lights in your house are unexpectedly turned off, or your computer has survived a virus attack, an unpleasant situation may occur. The file system of the disk on your computer or laptop changes its format to RAW and for the device to work properly (as a rule, you want to do this as soon as possible), you need to return it to NTFS format. 
What is a RAW disc
So, the RAW file system type, let's see what it is. The RAW system is a non-existent system. If the computer indicates that the storage medium has this format, then the drivers cannot determine the type of its file system (FAT, FAT32 OR NTFS).
If the media received the RAW format, Windows 10, although it will display it among the partitions of the hard drive, but any actions with it will be impossible, and defragmentation, and checking for errors, and, of course, viewing the data lying on the disk. The computer will constantly give an error, and offer to format the disk, and in the line “properties of the logical disk” will appear “RAW”. So how do you recover a file system from RAW to NTFS on your hard drive?
File system recovery from RAW to NTFS
The system will offer you the easiest way - to format the disk. But do not rush to do this, because your data has not been lost, now there is simply no access to it. If you format a RAW disk to convert the file system back to NTFS, it will take a long time to recover data from the media using special programs. We offer several ways to recover disk from RAW to NTFS without data loss.
Recovering NTFS file system from RAW without formatting
Method 1: Windows Tools
Mainly, to change the file system from RAW to NTFS, the standard utility from the operating system chkdsk helps. Follow the procedure below:
- Right-click on Start and select Command Prompt
- Type chkdsk drive_letter: / f
- The computer will start a check, after which it will repair the damage and the NTFS system in the problem area
Shkdsk will also help if the system disk is damaged. To do this, you will need a flash drive or boot disk.
Here are your steps:
- Start the computer from a flash drive or disk, and then select "Recovery"
- Then open "advanced options", followed by "command line". There enter chkdsk drive_letter: / f
During recovery, the letters of the partitions may differ from the names of the disks. In order to avoid an error in the work, open the list of computer partitions in the command line, then enter diskpart, then list volume and you will see which disk is the system one. This will be listed.
Alternatively, you can try restoring your system from previously saved backups.
Method 2: Using special programs
And here is how to make NTFS from the RAW file system using third-party programs.
First of all, we recommend using the free Testdisk program. It is a utility that interacts with hard disk partitions. She will help fix the situation. The disadvantage of working with the Testdisk program is that it does not work with Russian names and they may be displayed incorrectly.
Here's how to convert RAW to NTFS using Testdisk:
RAW format on your flash drive
Reasons for conversion:
- When a USB flash drive is connected, the computer is not turned off properly or a voltage drop has occurred
- Windows crash
- Banal viruses
- External damage to the flash drive, from impact or fall
How to change the wrong format of the system to the correct one:
Converter MiniTool Power Data Recovery gives a good result. The principle of its operation is that the program does not convert RAW into the desired format, but makes all the files on your flash drive visible, which makes it possible to work with them. The downside of the program is that only a trial version is free, which works with files no larger than 1 GB.
How to work with the program:
Also on our website you can familiarize yourself with the following topics:
- Merging hard drive partitions on Windows 10
- How to change hard disk partitions
- How to change the paging file in Windows 10
windows10x.ru
Restore the HDD file system with the preservation of all data
The problem with the appearance of the RAW file system can comprehend not only removable media, but also a hard drive with data or a separate partition of the hard drive. If the malfunction is of a software nature, then you can fix it using formatting. However, changing the format using standard Windows tools is fraught with the appearance of deleted data.
If the file system of your hard disk is detected as RAW, and the system persistently prompts you to format it, then it is better to skip this procedure. Disconnect the hard drive, do not carry out any more operations with it in order to avoid accidental overwriting.
Important: if the hard drive is physically damaged, then you should not try to repair it yourself.
If, upon examination, you find that the hard drive is physically sound, then first try to restore the file system with the CHKDSK utility. This will help to avoid the subsequent time-consuming recovery of deleted files.
Using the CHKDSK utility
The CHKDSK utility is a built-in hard drive diagnostics and repair tool. The problem is that if the file system is damaged, then you will not be able to start the system. Therefore, the CHKDSK utility will have to be run using the installation disk:
A parameter in the command syntax means to start searching and fixing errors. The letter "d:" designates the disk to be scanned. If the operation is successful, errors are found and eliminated, then you will again get a working disk with a normal file system and no important data deleted.
Extracting files with R-Studio
If the TestDisk program did not help to get rid of the RAW format, and you did not return the NTFS or FAT32 file system, then you will have to go the other way. You will need:
- Another computer with a scratch disk and system installed.
- R-Studio program.
Remove the RAW file system HDD and connect it to another computer. To avoid the appearance of deleted files, start R-Studio. Here you need:
You need to save the files to a different drive than the one from which they were just extracted. The hard drive format will not change - it will remain RAW. To recover the HDD, format it as suggested by the system. The format will change, but there will be no more problems with the deleted files, since you previously "pulled" them from the damaged media.
Formatting to NTFS
If you need to format your hard drive to the NTFS file system, without losing information, you can try to do this through the command line. This will not solve the RAW issue; you cannot use this method to change to FAT32 either. But if you need to change the format of a disk or partition from FAT32 to NTFS, then try the following steps:
Enter the command "convert G: / FS: NTFS / X". Instead of "G" there should be the letter of the hard drive you connected, the partition format of which you want to change from FAT32 to NTFS. Executing this command will help you avoid data loss, that is, you will not have to recover deleted files, since formatting is not required.
easyrecover.ru
How to recover the file system of a hard drive
Photos from open sources A situation in which the hard drive needs to be repaired can happen to every PC user. You may need it for various reasons. One of them is file system corruption.
If the drive is used as intended, it has the FAT or NTFS file system. These formats indicate that it works well and does not require recovery. But sometimes it turns into RAW. How do you know if a failure has occurred? If you accessed the disk, but it did not open and a message appeared about the need to format it, then a failure occurred.
This message can mean the following:
- The structure of the filesystem being used has been destroyed;
- The content is not clearly accessible;
- Invalid data was written to the boot sector.
- To start recovery, you need to click "Master". Then the operation menu will appear. The hard drive will be analyzed.
- All partitions in the program are divided into 3 categories: hard, removable and logical drives. In order to start data recovery, you need to select the desired partition. After that click "Next". You will be prompted to select the type of analysis: online scan or full analysis.
- Better to do a full analysis right away. It processes 3 filters at once. The first filter will compute NTFS systems. The second one will process files that belong to this system. Deep analysis will work regardless of the file system.
- If you choose the first option, then some of the files will simply not be found. In this case, files may be found that do not show signs of damage.
- Then you can start scanning. The larger the volume of the scanned disk, the longer the process will be.
- After the analysis is complete, you will find out how many folders are in this section.
- In order to get acquainted with all the files found during the analysis, you need to go to the main menu and click "Finish".
- The "Deep Analysis" folder appears in the center of the window. Next, you will need to select them in this folder, and then click "Restore". It remains to choose a place to save them.
- In this window, you will need to select the location to save the data, the option to restore the structure of folders that were deleted, and restore file streams to NTFS. After that, you need to click the "Restore" button.
The main thing for the day
In Dagestan, unidentified persons fired at police officers Unknown on Monday, August 28, fired at police officers in the Dagestani Kaspiysk. As a result of the attack, one employee was killed, RIA Novosti reports, citing a source in the republic's law enforcement agencies. "Unknown persons committed armed ... 
NATO Secretary General: The European Union cannot cope without the alliance The European Union is dependent and cannot cope without NATO in terms of security. This was stated by the Secretary General of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg. The secretary's interview was published on Monday by the newspaper Rzecz Pospolita. Concerning the general ... News aggregator 24SMI
Anecdote of the day
At the age of 7, my father took me to a school for gifted children. To show what kind of son he wanted.
More "
planet-today.ru
RAW format of HDD disks: how to fix NTFS using Windows tools or third-party software
Most often, the disk file system changes to RAW after an improper shutdown of the computer, when the lights were turned off, or the user saved time and pulled out the power cord of the system unit from the outlet. Another reason is viruses that change NTFS to RAW HDD format. How to fix this problem, read this article.
What is RAW File System?
If the disk is in RAW format, Windows will display it among other partitions of the hard drive. But when you try to open it, the computer will give an error and offer to format it. In addition, any actions with this volume will be unavailable: checking for errors, defragmenting, etc. (it is useful to read "How to check the integrity of Windows 10 system files and restore them?").
As such, the RAW file system does not exist. If the disk receives such formatting, it means that the computer drivers are not able to determine the type of its file system - NTFS, FAT or FAT32. In practice, this happens in several cases:
- the file system structure is damaged;
- the partition has not been formatted;
- there is no correct access to the contents of the volume.
If the volume with the OS is damaged, the warnings "Reboot and selеct proper boot device" or "Operating System not found" will appear when the computer boots.
Recovery
If the problem occurs on a non-system disk, but it contains important information that will be lost during formatting, use standard Windows tools or third-party programs to fix the error.
Basically, the standard chkdsk utility helps to fix problems with formatting in RAW.
After the check, the computer will repair the damaged sectors and the NTFS file system on the problem volume.
Important! This method is effective if the flash drive or hard drive has been formatted in NTFS.
Also, the chkdsk utility will help when the system disk is damaged. But for this you need a bootable disk or flash drive.
- Start the computer from a bootable USB flash drive or disk → Select "System Restore".
- Advanced options -\u003e command line -\u003e enter chkdsk desired drive letter: / f.
Partition letters in a recovery environment differ from the names of logical drives. To avoid mistakes, open the list of computer partitions in the command line.
Enter diskpart → list volume → the list will indicate which disk is the system disk.
Good to know! If these methods do not help, try restoring your system from previously saved backups.
There are third-party programs that help restore the NTFS file system if, for some reason, it has been reformatted to RAW. They do not damage user information stored on the volume, unlike the chkdsk utility, which can "touch" them during the recovery process.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery
Important! This method is most effective if the RAW file system appeared on a USB flash drive.
The utility does not restore the required format, but makes all files stored on the media visible. Therefore, you can work with them. The main disadvantage of MiniTool Power Data Recovery is that it is shareware. The trial version works with files up to 1GB in size (also read "Recovering Information from Disks with Disk Drill for Windows").
TestDisk
This is a multifunctional freeware utility that works with hard disk partitions with a large number of options. The program is presented in a portable version, therefore, does not require installation. The main disadvantage of TestDisk is that there is no Russified interface.
An alternative way to recover NTFS formatting of a partition is presented in the video.
