RAW file system: how to return to NTFS. How to fix a HDD RAW disk in a minute and without data loss The disk says that the file system is raw

A number of users may be unable to access their hard drive (or flash drive). In the operating system, such devices receive the status “ Raw", and their file structure becomes inaccessible to the user. In this article, I will examine this dysfunction in detail, tell you what to do in a situation where 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.

Recovering disk partitions

What is the RAW file system

To understand that this is a RAW file system and how to return the NTFS, FAT32 format, you need 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, and so on.).

Simply put, RAW disks are disks that are not recognized by Windows for various reasons. Typically, in this case, Windows recommends formatting such a disk, which should not be done, since the data on the disk will be lost as a result of 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 shutdown of such disks (loss of voltage in the network, physical disconnection by the user, problems with the power supply, etc.), as a result of which the integrity and structure of the data on the disk is disrupted;
• Problems with cables connecting the motherboard and 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 system structure on the hard drive is damaged;
• Error in installing or updating the operating system;
• Errors when working with various hard disk partition managers;
• Not a tight connection between the flash drive and the USB connector of the PC (in the case of a flash drive);
• Problems with the computer motherboard and so on.

How to return NTFS, FAT32 from RAW

• Just try it restart your computer, the problem may be random;
• Check the tightness of the cable connections to the hard drive, try using another connector for connecting the hard drive on the motherboard, as well as another USB connector computer when connecting an external flash drive;
• Use the built-in CHKDSK utility. Launch a command prompt as administrator and type

chkdsk X: /f (where X is the RAW drive letter)

The “f” parameter means correcting errors on the disk, that is, 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. Moreover, if you cannot boot the operating system, then boot using a bootable system disk or flash drive (you can use various “Live CD” builds), select “System Restore” there, go to “Advanced options” and then to “Command Prompt” , and there type the above command.

If you cannot access the command line from your PC, then it is recommended to connect your hard drive to another computer and check your disk for errors from it.

• Use the capabilities of another system utility sfc, created to check the integrity of system files. Also run the command line as administrator and write in it:

and press enter.

• If you have access to the operating system, then it's worth check 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 significant), then the problem disk (or flash drive) can be formatted. Click on the “Start” key and type diskmgmt.msc in the search bar, the disk control panel will appear. Right-click on the raw disk and select “Format” from the menu that appears.

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 suggest programs such as 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, indicate the problem disk, enable the in-depth analysis option and click on “Start”.

After the scan is completed, the program will display a list of found files, mark them with checkboxes and click on “Recover”.

TestDisk

The second program that can help with the issue of the RAW file system is TestDisk.

1. Download and install this program, run it as administrator.
2. Select the “Create” command and press enter, select the raw disk with the cursor and press “Enter”.
3. After selecting the desired type of partition table, press enter, then select “Analyze” and “Quick Search” (a quick search for problematic partitions will be carried out).
4. After TestDisk finds the problematic volumes, click on “Write” to record 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 returning NTFS, FAT32 is to use the CHKDSK system command, as well as special programs that can restore the file structure of the problem disk. If none of the tips I suggested turned out to be effective for you, then I recommend contacting a service center - perhaps your hard drive has problems not of a software, but of a hardware nature, and it needs a thorough repair.

Today we will look at how to recover information from a hard drive if the file system structure is damaged and the RAW file system is displayed in the disk properties. Below we will discuss several methods that will allow you to restore a disk with the RAW file system.

You should immediately note that there is no universal way to eliminate the problem that has arisen. Below we will look at several of the most effective ways to restore a disk.

Reasons for displaying the RAW file system

1. The disk has not been formatted. However, if the disk worked normally before, then this reason is dismissed;

2. There is damage in the file system structure;

3. There is no correct access to the disk;

4. Invalid data was written to the boot sector or MFT.

Methods for recovering a RAW file system disk

Method 1: Check the disk

This method must be carried out by users first, because... it is launched using standard Windows tools, without resorting to third-party programs.

To use this method, you will need a bootable USB flash drive with Windows OS.

Enter the BIOS and set the USB flash drive as the default boot device.

When Windows Installer appears on the screen, set the system language, and then select "System Restore" .

In the window that appears, click on the item "Command line" .

In a terminal window, you will need to enter a command similar to the following:

chkdsk [drive letter]: /f

For example, for drive D the command would look like this:

chkdsk d: /f

Press Enter and wait for the command to complete. When the check is complete, restart your computer normally and check the disk status.

Method 2: using MiniTool Power Data Recovery program

An effective program for troubleshooting disk problems. The program has a free version, however, the size of the recovered files should not exceed 1 GB).

In the next window, select the drive from which you want to recover data, and then click on "Full Scan" .

After waiting for the scanning to complete, the files available for saving will be displayed on the screen. You can select all files or selectively mark only the ones you need. Once the files needed for recovery have been selected, click the button "Save" .

A window will appear on the screen in which you will need to specify the final path for the files to be restored. Please note that you should not specify the disk that is being restored.

The copying process will begin, the duration of which will depend on the number of selected files. Once the procedure is completed, a success message will be displayed on your screen.

Now you can easily format the disk and transfer all the files back to it.

Download MiniTool Power Data Recovery for free

Method 3: Using the TestDisk utility

A functional free utility that has the following capabilities:

1. Recovering deleted partitions;

2. Performing MBR rewrite;

3. Perform boot sector recovery from backup (FAT32 and NFTS);

4. Copying files from remote partitions;

5. NTFS boot sector reconstruction and more.

Many users are put off by working with this utility because... All actions are performed via the command line. However, you shouldn’t be afraid of this, especially since it is given on the developer’s website.

Hard disk drives (HDDs), which for various reasons are not detected by the operating system, receive RAW status and access to them is no longer possible. When you try to open such a disk, Windows advises you to format it, but if you follow this recommendation, all recorded information will disappear. It is advisable to restore an acceptable format: NTFS or FAT32.

The sources of problems with HDD can be different, and before you do anything to restore the format, it is worth identifying them. Here are the most common:

1. Connection failures. For example, the user incorrectly disconnected the disk or the power supply stopped and the file system became corrupted.
2. The cable that connects the drive to the board is broken.
3. Malicious software that violates the data structure.
4. Errors that occurred when reinstalling or updating the OS.
5. In the case of a flash drive, the reason for changing the format to RAW may also be a malfunction of the USB connectors.
6. Malfunctions of the PC motherboard.
7. Errors when working with Acronis Disk Director. This program, by the way, can cause strange problems with the file system, even if the media is simply formatted in it. It is better to use standard Windows formatting, and to work with partitions it is better to use other programs, for example, Paragon Partition Manager or similar.

Format recovery

To restore NTFS format from RAW, try the following:

Restoring format using special programs

If, when you try to check the HDD using the method described above, a message appears: “CHKDSK is not valid for RAW disks,” you can use programs that allow you to restore the NTFS format from RAW. Let's look at the most popular of them.

DMDE

DMDE is a utility that looks for damaged partitions in the file system and helps restore the disk to NTFS status. After downloading and installing the program, you need to do the following:

1. Launch the application.
2. On the left, check the box next to the phrases “Physical devices” and “Show partitions”.
3. Select the damaged drive and click OK. After this, the utility will find the RAW section and indicate it with a crossed out icon. If this does not happen, perform a full scan (the corresponding button is located at the bottom of the window).
4. Now try to open the RAW volume and click “Recover” and then “Apply settings”.
5. After this, as a rule, the HDD format changes to NTFS.

DMDE program window

IMPORTANT. If you are trying to return the NTFS status to the system disk and do it from another PC, then after the operation is completed and the HDD is returned to its place, the old computer will still display it in RAW format, so it is advisable to first restore the Windows bootloader.

Recuva

A simple and easy-to-use program that can extract files from damaged or formatted media. By itself, it will not restore the file system, but it will allow you to save important files from a flash drive or hard drive. After this, the media can simply be reformatted without fear of losing information.

1. Launch the application, select “Recover all files”, mark the damaged disk and click “Start”.
2. The utility will detect files with a broken structure and correct the format to NTFS.

Piriform Recuva program window

TestDisk

The third utility that restores the disk format. Just download and run it, and then:

1. Select New, press Enter.
2. Then click on the problematic HDD, then Enter again and select Analyze and Quick Search.
3. After executing the command, select Write to restore the information structure.

TestDisk window

If all these manipulations lead to nothing, most likely the disk has mechanical damage or its components do not interact correctly and it would be more advisable to show it to a specialist.

Have you ever encountered a situation where the disc format turned into RAW? How did you deal with a problem like this? Write about it in the comments.

What is the RAW file system and how to return the NTFS format without data loss - in this article we will look at these issues in detail, as well as recovery methods.

It often happens that after an incorrect shutdown of your computer, for example, if you unplug the cord from the socket or the power in your house is suddenly turned off, or your computer has experienced 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 function properly (as a rule, you want to do this as quickly as possible), you need to return it to the NTFS format.

What is a RAW disc?

So, RAW file system type, let's figure out 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 has received the RAW format, Windows 10 OS will display it among the hard drive partitions, but any actions with it will be impossible, such as defragmentation, checking for errors, and, of course, viewing the data on the disk. The computer will constantly give an error and prompt you to format the disk, and “RAW” will appear in the “logical disk properties” line. So how do you restore a file system from RAW to NTFS format on a hard drive?

Restoring a file system from RAW to NTFS

The system will offer you the easiest way - to format the disk. But don’t rush to do this, because your data is not lost, now there is simply no access to it. If you format a RAW disk to convert the file system back to NTFS, you will have to spend a long time recovering data from the media using special programs. We offer several ways to restore a disk from RAW to NTFS without losing data.

Restoring a file system to NTFS 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 these steps:

• Right click "Start" and select "command prompt"
• Type the command chkdsk drive_letter: /f
• The computer will begin a scan, after which it will repair the damage and the NTFS system in the problem area

Chkdsk will also help if the system disk is damaged. For this you will need a flash drive or boot disk.

Here are your steps:

• Start your computer from a flash drive or disk, and then select “Recovery”
• Then open “advanced options”, and then “command prompt”. There, enter chkdsk drive_letter: /f

Important!

When restoring, the partition letters may differ from the disk names. In order to prevent errors in operation, open the list of computer partitions in the command line, then enter diskpart, Then listvolume and you will see which drive is the system one. This will be indicated in the list.

You can also try from previously saved backups.

Method 2: Using special programs

Here's how to make NTFS from a RAW file system using third-party programs.

First of all, we recommend using the free Testdisk program. This is a utility that interacts with hard disk partitions. She will help correct the situation. The disadvantage of working with the Testdisk program is that it does not work with Russian names and they may not be displayed correctly.

Here's how to convert RAW to NTFS using Testdisk:

RAW format on your flash drive

Reasons for conversion:

1. When the flash drive is connected, the computer is turned off incorrectly or there is a voltage drop
2. Windows crashes
3. Banal viruses
4. External damage to the flash drive, from impact or fall

How to change the wrong system format to the correct one:

The MiniTool Power Data Recovery converter gives good results. The principle of its operation is that the program does not convert RAW to the desired format, but makes all the files on your flash drive visible, which makes working with them possible. The disadvantage of the program is that only the trial version is free, which works with files no larger than 1 GB.

How to use 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 drive partitions
• How to change the page file in Windows 10

One of the common problems encountered on Windows 7, 8 and 10 is changing the file system of a hard drive, flash drive or solid-state drive to RAW. The system automatically informs you about this problem with messages like “Format the disk to use it” and “The disk file system is not recognized.” Let's figure out how to return the file system from RAW back to NTFS or FAT32.

The RAW file system is, in fact, the complete “absence of a file system” on the media as such. This usually happens due to system failures, a sudden power outage, or a malfunction of the device itself. Any attempts to check the drive are often accompanied by the notification “CHKDSK is not valid for RAW drives.” There is no need to worry - in most cases, the data on the disk can be recovered.

How we will solve the problem:

• Using a standard drive check tool.
• Through partition formatting.
• Recuva utility.
• Using the DMDE program.
• Via TestDisk.

The first thing you need to do when you detect a RAW file system and have problems accessing storage media (HDD, SDD, external drive or microSD card) is to test the device. The method will not work in all cases, but it is absolutely safe and is perfect for situations when the system disk is formatted in RAW, as a result of which the OS refuses to boot.

The system starts

So, if you are lucky and the system was “lying” on another volume (continues to work), then you can perform the check directly from the OS. To do this, perform the following sequence of actions:

1. We use administrator rights to open the command line. To do this, press the Win + X combination on the keyboard or right-click on “Start”, and then go to the “Command Prompt (Administrator)” section.

1. Enter the command chkdsk n: /f into the line, where n is the symbol of the disk whose file system has changed to RAW. Click on Enter.

There are two possible options for the command line to respond to the entered command:

• the check will begin and the drive will be reformatted to the original NTFS format if the problem was due to a normal failure;
• the line will display the message “chkdsk is not valid for raw disks” or “The main file table is damaged, chkdsk was interrupted” if the problem is more serious than a standard failure (then chkdsk will not be able to restore the file system).

After checking the external hard drive, folders ntfsck 00000000 and ntfsck 00000001 may appear on the media, which will contain many recovered files with the name “file”.

You can also check the device with another command – “sfc /scannow”. Use it if the previous one did not help. A system scan will begin, which may take quite a long period of time (the current progress will be displayed).

If the operation does not give the desired result, then we move on to other methods of returning the file system on a hard drive, solid drive or microSD.

The system does not start

If Windows refuses to boot (this means that the system drive has become the RAW disk), you need to boot from another OS, . We will not analyze the process of its creation - this is a topic for a separate article. Next, to fix the problem with RAW, follow the instructions below:

1. We boot the PC using the distribution package, which is recorded on a flash drive or on an external hard drive (the Boot Menu launch combination for your motherboard or laptop can be seen when you start the computer). Having selected the language, click on “System Restore” in the lower right corner, or press the combination Shift + F10.

1. In the command line that opens, write the following commands one by one:

• diskpart;
• list volume (the program will show which letter was assigned to the faulty disk partition, since it may differ from the one that was installed on the system);
• exit;
• chkdsk n: /f (again, n is the letter of the failed drive).

As for the possible reaction, everything is exactly the same - these operations will either help change the file system to NTFS, and the system will boot, or a message will be displayed stating that this method is not applicable.

If RAW was caused by minor damage to the MFT file table, then most likely you will be able to perform a recovery using the CHKDSK utility, after which the system will start in standard mode.

If the steps described above fail, move on to the following methods to solve the problem.

Formatting a partition

We have already noted that with RAW format, the system automatically asks you to format the hard drive to start working. This is what you should do if important information is not stored on the device, or if the media is simply new (for new drives, the RAW file system is standard). When performing the formatting procedure, data loss cannot be avoided.

You can format a partition or an entire disk using the tools built into Windows. To do this, we either agree with the system’s request, which it displays when we try to open the disk, or we carry out the following actions:

1. Press the key combination Win + R and in the “Run” window that opens, write the command. Click on “OK”.

1. In the list of disks, select the drive that has RAW listed in the “File system” column. We right-click and format the device by clicking on the desired button.

1. If the “Format” item is not active (it is not available for new drives), then you must first click on “Initialize disk”. Once the device is initialized, you can format it to NTFS and begin using it.

If the formatting procedure still fails, then first right-click on the disk and click on “Delete Volume”. Then click on the unallocated area (it will be marked with shading) and select “Create a simple volume”. The wizard, which comes off automatically, will help you carry out further actions.

The formatting procedure itself will not require additional actions from the user - you will only need to indicate the future file system (NTFS or FAT32) and the desired letter for the new volume.

Recuva utility help

Recuva is a simple application that can quickly return the NTFS format to a disk with the current RAW file system without losing data (a free analogue of the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard utility).

To fix the problem using Recuva, you need to follow the instructions below:

1. Download the program from the official website and install it. There is a free version of the utility, the functionality of which is quite sufficient for us. The developers have already completed the translation into Russian.

1. Click on the icon with a list of disks and select the one with which the problem occurred, and then click on the “Analysis” button.

1. Upon completion of the scan, the utility will display a list of files. We restore them in a few clicks: select the ones you need, right-click and click on “Restore selected...”.

The files will be restored, RAW will return to NTFS.

Using DMDE

It's possible that the RAW disc contained important information that needs to be returned. In this case, you cannot format the drive under any circumstances. We suggest using the free DMDE utility designed for data recovery.

The procedure for returning data from a RAW partition using DMDE can be represented as follows:

1. Download the utility from the official website of the developer.

1. The program does not need installation - just unpack the archive to any convenient location and run the dmde.exe file.

1. Check the “Show partitions” checkbox, select the hard drive on which the problematic RAW partition is located, and click “OK”.

1. After analysis, a partition without a file system and with a crossed out icon should appear in the list. Right-click on it and click on “Open Volume”. If RAW was not found, perform a “Full Scan”, and then open the section.

1. We check whether the necessary information is on this disk partition. If it is there, then click on the second icon in the top toolbar.

1. Select the disk and click on “Recover”.

When the procedure is completed, the faulty partition will become accessible again. The NTFS file system will be returned.

When performing this procedure on a system hard drive connected to another computer, you will have to restore the bootloader in order for the drive to work on your PC.

Recovery via TestDisk

TestDisk is a fairly advanced tool that can solve most problems with the RAW file system (and convert it to NTFS in particular). You have to “pay” for such functionality - there is a possibility that something will go wrong and the data on the disk with the current system will be lost. Use this program only if none of the previous methods worked.

1. Download the utility from the official website and unpack the archive to a suitable location - the program does not need installation.

1. Run the testdisk_win.exe file from the unzipped folder.

1. In the “Select a media” item, select a disk, one of the partitions of which has received RAW status (we select the drive itself, and not a separate faulty partition). Move using arrows, select by pressing Enter.

We are waiting for the verification procedure to complete.

1. As a result, the utility will find partitions, including RAW. We can determine which one we need by size. You can view the contents by pressing the English letter P, and go back by pressing Q. Partitions with a “P” mark next to them will be restored and written, while those with a “D” will be ignored. Using the left and right keys on the keyboard you can change the assignment for the section. To avoid accidentally deleting the system partition marked with the symbol “D”, change it to “P”. To continue, press Enter.

1. We make sure that the program has compiled the correct table, and if we are sure that everything has been done correctly, then select “Write”, press Enter, and then Y to confirm the action.

When the program completes its work, close it and check the result. If this method did not help, and the file system for the flash drive or disk did not return, then the drive may have mechanical damage. In such situations, it is better to entrust hard drive recovery to a professional.

In conclusion, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of problems that may result in changing the file system to RAW:

• Power interruptions. You may have suddenly lost power, causing your file system to become corrupted.
• There is a malfunction in the cable connecting the device to the motherboard.
• Operation of malicious software.
• Failure of the USB connector (if the problem occurs with the flash drive).
• Problems with the motherboard.
• Presence of bad sectors.

We hope that you were able to recover your personal information and return the disk to the NTFS file system. The presented guides apply to SSD, HDD and flash memory.

Video instruction

We have attached video instructions, thanks to which you can clearly study the process of returning from RAW to NTFS using advanced software.

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to fix the RAW file system on a flash drive or other drive. We recommend using the methods described in the article one after another - in most cases, one of them helps solve the problem.