Hard Disk Is Recognized as RAW? Solutions
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to take if your hard disks is recognized as RAW. From understanding the causes of this issue to implementing effective troubleshooting methods, we’ll cover everything you need to know to recover your data and restore your disk’s functionality.
First of all, you shouldn’t panic, hurry or agree to Windows suggestions (unless you know 100% what certain operations do). The best thing would be to turn off your PC (if it occurred to an external hard disk – disconnect it from your PC or laptop).
- Reasons Why Your File System Appears To Be RAW
- Case 1: Windows Is Loading, Data On The Disk Is Not Necessary, The Task Is To Restore Operability Of The Drive
- Case 2: Windows Is Booting (RAW File System Is Not In The Disk Containing Windows)
- Case 3: Windows Does Not Boot (RAW Is The File System In The Disk Containing Windows)
- Questions and answers
- Comments
Reasons Why Your File System Appears To Be RAW
RAW file system means that the disk is not formatted and there is no file system assigned to it. This may happen for a number of reasons but most often they are like this:
- A power cut while the PC is working (for example, when there is a power failure, and when the electricity is back again, you turn on the computer and it reboots; then you see that your disk has become RAW-type and you are offered to format it);
- talking about an external hard disk, it often happens to such devices when their USB cable becomes disconnected when some data is being copied (what we recommend: always, before disconnecting the cable, click on a tray icon (next to the clock) to remove the disk safely);
- in case of incorrect work with applications that modify hard disk partitions, format them and so on;
- very often, users connect their external hard disks to televisions which then format the disk into their own format which the PC cannot read and sees it as RAW file system (to read such disk you should better use special utilities that can read the file system that the television has created);
- when your PC is infected by viral applications;
- when the hardware is physically damaged (there is hardly anything you can do to save your data).
If the reason for RAW file system to appear is wrong disconnection of the disk (or a power failure/shutdown in an incorrect way in case with a PC) – then in most cases data can be recovered safely. In other cases, the chances are less but they are still there.
Case 1: Windows Is Loading, Data On The Disk Is Not Necessary, The Task Is To Restore Operability Of The Drive
The easiest and quickest way to get rid of RAW is to format the hard disk into another file system (this is what Windows offers to do).
Attention! During formatting, all data will be deleted from the hard disk. Be careful not to use this method if you have important files on the disk.
It is better to format the disk from disk management system (“Computer” does not always show all disks, and in disk management system you will see the structure of all disks at once).
To open it, go to Windows Control Panel, then open System and Security, go to Administrative Tools and click the link Create and format hard disk partitions.
Then you select the disk having RAW file system, and format it (you just have to right-click on the necessary disk partition and select Format in the menu).
After formatting the disk will be as if new (containing no files) – now you can write to it whatever you need (and make sure it does not suffer a power failure again).
Case 2: Windows Is Booting (RAW File System Is Not In The Disk Containing Windows)
If you need the files which are on the disk – then it is strongly recommended that you don’t format the disk! At first try checking the disk for errors and correct it – in most cases the disk begins working as usual. Let’s study these actions step by step.
First of all, go to Disk Management (Control Panel/System and Security/Administrative Tools/Create and format hard disk partitions), see above in the article.
Remember the letter of the drive where you have RAW file system.
Launch Command Prompt as administrator. In Windows 10 it can be done easily: right-click on the START menu, and choose Command Prompt (Administrator) from the appearing menu.
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Then enter the command “chkdsk D: /f” (instead of D: – specify your drive letter) and press ENTER.
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As you enter the command, the process of checking and correcting errors – if any are found – should begin. Quite often, after the checking Windows notifies you that all errors have been corrected and no further action is required. It means you can start working with the disk again, RAW file system has been replaced by your former file system (usually FAT 32 or NTFS).
Case 3: Windows Does Not Boot (RAW Is The File System In The Disk Containing Windows)
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What to do if you don’t have a setup disk (flash drive) with Windows…
In this case, there is an easy way out: take the hard disk out of the computer (laptop) and put it into another computer. Then with the other computer you check it for errors (see above in the article) and if they are corrected, continue using the disk as before.
You can also use another variant: borrow a setup disk from someone and install Windows to another disk, then load from such disk and check for errors the one marked as being RAW.
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If you have a setup disk…
IThings are much simpler then. First of all, boot the PC from the setup disk and instead of installation, choose repairing (this link is always there in the lower left corner of the window when installation begins).
Then find Command prompt in the repair menu and launch it. There, you need to start checking of the hard disk where your Windows is installed. How can we do it – the drive letters have changed because we booted from a flash drive (a setup disk)? It’s quite easy:
- First of all launch the Notepad from the command prompt (command notepad and see what disks are there and what drive letters they have. Remember the drive letter of the disk where you have your Windows installed).
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Then close the Notepad and launch the checking by the method you already know: chkdsk d: /f (and press ENTER).
By the way, usually the drive letter jumps one character ahead, i.e. if the system disk is C:, it becomes D: when you boot the system with a setup disk. Yet it doesn’t happen every time, so there may be exceptions to this rule!
If you need to save the lost data from a hard disk (or a flash drive) we recommend learning more about data recovery software.
Even if the computer does not boot, you can do as shown in Case 3. Take the hard disk out of the computer (laptop) and insert it into another computer. Using this other computer, scan it for lost data and if you find any, save it to another disk.
Thanks helpful. Just had this happen to a 6TB drive and thought I had lost it all since unable to do diskcheck from GUI and just showing up as RAW but still had drive letter. Was about to format since that's all Windows wanted to do to the drive. Totally forgot about accessing it via command line so "chkdsk D: /f" fixed it!
i dont remember that how i fix last 2 times the hard drive raw file system to ntfs without losing data, but now it didnt fix i tried chkdsk /r /f command dont know how i will fix.
You can recover data from RAW disk with Hetman Partition Recovery https://hetmanrecovery.com/hard-drive-data-recovery-software
What steps can you take to prevent your hard disk from being recognized as RAW in the first place?
Are there any DIY solutions to fixing a RAW hard disk, or should you always seek professional help?
In general, it is always best to seek professional help when dealing with a RAW hard disk. DIY solutions may be able to provide a temporary fix, but they are unlikely to provide a permanent solution. Professional help can help diagnose the underlying cause of the issue and provide a more reliable fix.
What precautions should you take to avoid causing further damage to a RAW hard disk during recovery attempts?
Use a clean and static-free environment to work on the hard disk. Avoid using tools that write to the disk, such as chkdsk. Make sure that the power supply to the hard disk is stable and not interrupted during recovery attempts. Make sure that the hard disk is not exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity. Make sure that the hard disk is not exposed to strong magnetic fields. Make sure to use the correct tools and techniques for data recovery, as some tools may cause further damage to the disk. Make sure to back up any recovered data onto a separate storage device.
Can formatting a RAW hard disk help you recover data, or will it erase everything?
Formatting a RAW hard disk will erase everything, so it will not help you recover data.
Is it possible to fix a hard disk that's recognized as RAW, and how do you do it?
Yes, it is possible to fix a hard disk that is recognized as RAW. The best way to do this is to use a professional data recovery software. These programs are designed to scan the disk and recover lost or corrupted files. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may be able to repair the disk without having to replace it.
Read what to do if the hard disk is recognized as RAW. If you do have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our technical support service - we will be happy to help you.