Open external drive with raw file system. File system RAW or how to get NTFS or FAT32 back. How to change RAW file system to NTFS

Imagine that you are inserting a USB flash drive into your computer and you see the message: “To use a disk in the F: drive, first format it. Do you want to format it? " If it's a new flash drive, no questions asked, but what if it had data on it? Then take your time to agree to formatting - perhaps there is a chance to save them.

First of all, you can try to take risks and fix errors using Windows tools. To do this, open the console as administrator and write:

Chkdsk f: / f

Naturally, f: will need to be replaced with the actual disk name. The / f parameter means correcting errors during scanning.

If the operation is successful, you can try to open the files. But it may be that you will see the error "Chkdsk is not valid for RAW drives." Don't despair, we still have a couple more options. We will use a special program DMDE.

DMDE is a very cool program that comes in handy for finding, editing and recovering data on disks. The developer says that she uses clever algorithms, thanks to which she can restore the directory structure and files in difficult cases, when other programs do not give the desired result.

DMDE has a disk editor, a simple partition manager, the ability to create images and clone disks, reverse engineer RAID arrays etc. Paid editions support unlimited file and directory recovery, but the free version is also very good and helps in many situations just as well.

After starting the program, select our media.

A section window opens, where we double-click to select a full scan.

After a quick scan, you need to go to a higher level in the "Found" folder and click "All found + reconstruction". A dialog will open where we select "Rescan the current file system" and wait for the end of the operation.

After scanning, DMDE will show a list of found files. We look through the folders and choose what to restore. Whole folders in free version to restore, alas, it is impossible. To restore one file at a time, click right click mouse and select "Restore object", then indicate where to restore, and click OK.

It should be noted that the names of the files are generated automatically and often do not correspond to the original ones. Do not be surprised if some files come out "broken" and artifacts appear on the photos. By the way, images can sometimes be restored with one of the special utilities... For example, Recuva, R-Studio and PhotoDOKTOR. Much to my surprise last program restored practically killed photographs in a very good quality and with a minimum of artifacts - many of its competitors did not cope with this.

In general, success in your recovery! But it is better, of course, to immediately rewrite all data from temporary media and make backups.

Read about the causes of a RAW disk and how to convert it to NTFS. What are ways to restore access to "RAW" disk and how to recover data from it... Is the file system on the disk identified as "RAW"? Want to get your NTFS partition back after data loss? Can't format to disk in NTFS file system, do you need a program to change RAW to NTFS? You can find answers to these and other questions in our review article.

Our interaction with each other is based on information, we use it in our professional activities (economic, financial, scientific, social, cultural, etc.), we use it for entertainment and leisure activities.

Various computer devices help us to control and manage the ever-increasing flow of information, as well as store and have instant access to it. One of the main types of such devices are stationary personal computers and laptops. Thanks to the advanced elements of information processing and storage used in them, they easily cope with the tasks assigned to them and facilitate the process of information control for users.

The main role in the management of a computer device, as well as the collection, processing and storage of information, is played by software that exercises full control over the activities of the device and information flows.

The most famous software that fully meets the stated requirements is the operating system Windows from corporation Microsoft... The internal system shell, which allows you to instantly process huge amounts of data, execute many different processes simultaneously without reducing the overall performance of the device, with an attractive user interface, allowed the operating system Windows to acquire wide world fame, which led to extraordinary popularity. Separately, it should be noted the high threshold of resistance to the occurrence of various system problems and errors, which significantly increases overall security. operating system in general, also increasing the attractiveness of its use.

Along with advanced software responsible for the full and correct functioning of a computer device, data storage is also of great importance, used primarily to store all information. Internal hard drives and drives, external plug-in storage, "USB" drives and other devices are each used to solve specific tasks, but the main requirements imposed on them by users are safe use and storage of various information, with the ability to quickly access it at any time.

And the situation when a user finds empty unallocated space on a storage device instead of his data can cause feelings of despair and fear that all stored information will be lost forever. The current situation is always unpleasant, but not critical. All data stored on such a storage device remains in place, but the system cannot recognize the internal structure of the disk and provide access to it. However, the user can fix the format file system presented in the form "RAW", and bring it back to the original version, and return your data back. In this article, we will go over the seven main causes of this problem and offer you some solutions to fix it.

General concept "RAW"

Before proceeding with the description of the problems of the appearance of the format "RAW" on your storage device and possible ways their solutions, it is necessary to dwell in more detail on its explanation.

Concept "RAW" is intended to denote an undefined file system of a volume (a part of a computer's non-volatile memory, taken as a single whole storage area for ease of use).

Each volume or entire disk space has a specific file system that represents a certain order and specifies a special way to organize, store and designate data on storage media in computers and other electronic devices.

The system component is built into the kernel "RAWFS", the main function of which is to notify any applications about the size of the volume and the version of the file system, when prompted. If it is impossible to determine the file system, the designation appears "RAW"... In other words, this means that the file system name of the disk partition cannot be recognized by any of the file system drivers installed and available in the operating system. Windows, for any reason.

In practice, this indicates that the partition is not marked up for a certain format, the file structure of the system is broken, or there is a reason as a result of which there is no access to the internal contents of the partition (disk). Further in our article, we will present a list of the main reasons for the appearance of the format "RAW".

Seven main causes of occurrence "RAW"

There are many symptoms when a section hard disk becomes "RAW format"... As we already described in the previous section, the reasons for not recognizing the name of the disk file system in a partition can be different. Additionally, the system may require you to perform certain actions before allowing you to use a disk partition whose file system appears as "RAW"... For example, the operating system Windows shows an error message prompting you to perform the following procedure: “To use a disc in your drive, first format it. Do you want to format it? "... In this case, you will not be able to access the disk partition and all information located on it until you fulfill the requirement of the operating system.

In this case, formatting the disk partition can help you get rid of the problem. "RAW" format. But such a process will destroy all data stored in this section. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main causes and tips to eliminate them without losing data.

Note: Sometimes the disk or drive is displayed in the format "RAW" if the file system specified on it is not supported by the current version of the operating system installed on your computer device. If this is the case, you must take steps to open the drive in the operating system it was originally intended for and that supports the use of that file system.

1. Bad sectors

If there are bad sectors in a key area of the hard disk, then the disk is definitely not working normally, which can damage the file system and cause it to be displayed in the format "RAW".

2. Structural damage to the file system

The main backbone cause of problems and the display of disk partitions or individual drives in the format "RAW" is related to the health of the file system, which can be damaged for reasons other than the presence bad sectors... Therefore, if the file system suffers from internal structural damage, then the partition may turn into the format "RAW".

3. Corrupted partition table

The next, equally important, cause of the format problem "RAW" in a disk partition, the partition table can be damaged. For example, wrong values in the table "MBR", which contains data and a piece of code, as well as special signatures required for correct loading may be one of the reasons.

4. Reinstalling the operating system Windows

When you upgrade an older operating system to a newer advanced version, the file system of the system partition can also be changed to new version systems (for example, switch from version "FAT" to the file system "NTFS"). In this case, the file system may not be identified by the new operating system, and as a result, it will be displayed as "RAW" format.

5. Attack of viruses and malware

One of the most common reasons for displaying a disk partition in a file system format "RAW" is a virus attack and malware... Such malicious action on the system could damage the portion of the partition table that specifies the beginning, end of the partition, and other Additional Information, change or delete important parameters hard disk settings. As a result, it will become impossible to determine the boundaries of the affected partition and its file system, as a result of which, when subjected to a malicious virus attack, the disk partition will be displayed, when accessing it, in the format "RAW".

6. Damage to cables or connectors

In some cases, the hard disk or drive may appear as an undefined file system "RAW" if the connection cable is damaged or there is a poor contact in the connection connector.

Usually, the cable connect hard the disk rarely fails, but remember this as a possible reason for the system's definition of a disk as "RAW", necessary. Especially when there were power surges or other mechanical damage. More often, there are problems with the drive connection connector, which gets damaged after repeated use, or has a weak connection level, insufficient for correct display and operation of the drive.

7. Incorrect permission to access sections

One of possible reasons assigning a format to a section "RAW" the incorrectly configured access permission to the section, which is directly related to local settings security policies. As a consequence, the system can restrict your access to the disk partition and display it as an undefined file system.

Ways to restore access to "RAW" disk

Depending on the reasons that have arisen that affected the display of the disk partition or the entire drive in the format "RAW", you will need to follow a specific procedure to correct the situation. The steps below must be followed sequentially until the disc mapping problem is resolved. After each action, it is necessary to check whether the problem has been resolved and move on to the next if the result is negative.

1. Check the integrity of the cables or connectors.

If there was a power surge, then it is necessary to check the cables and connectors and connections for possible damage. Replace the cable with another good cable and recheck your drive. Alternatively, plug your drive into a different connector that you are sure is working properly and try to access it again. Perhaps these steps will be enough to completely fix the problem.

2. Change the security settings in the section properties

From the point of view of configuring access permissions to sections, you can change the required security settings in the section properties window. Open file explorer Windows and find your partition or disk in the format "RAW"... Right-click on it and, in the pop-up context menu from the list of possible actions, select the section "Properties".

Then in the new dialog that opens, go to the tab "Security" where you can remove useless users and any messy codes, and add a local user to resume disk access.

3. Change the security settings in the section properties

If for some reason it was not possible to allow access to the desired section, then you can change the security settings using the internal tool of the operating system. You can open the Local Policy Tool window different ways... For example, Click on the button "Start" located on "Taskbars" in the lower left corner of the desktop, and open the main user menu Windows... Use the scroll bar to move the slider down to the bottom of the list installed applications, and find the section Windows Administration Tools... Click on it once and open the submenu. Select a section from the list of presented system tools.

In the window that opens, in the left pane, select the section "Local Policies" and then in the right pane, double-click the section "Security Options" or right-click on it and select a section from the pop-up menu "Open".

In the right pane of the security settings window, all main types of policies will be presented with pre-configured settings for each of them. Using the scroll bar, move the slider down to the bottom of the list, and find the policy Network Access: A Sharing and Security Model for Local Accounts... Double-click on it with the left mouse button to access the policy properties window. Or right-click on it and open the pop-up menu, in which select the section "Properties".

In the policy properties window that opens network access in the tab "Local Security Option" in the center cell, open the pop-up menu, and change the set parameter to a value "Normal - local users authenticate as themselves".

Then press the buttons Apply and "OK" for your changes to take effect.

4. Convert "RAW" to the file system "NTFS" through the disk formatting process

If, when you turn on your computer or connect a drive to it, the operating system detects your disk, then a message will always be displayed, in which you will be prompted to format the disk to resume access to it, and install the correct version of the new file system on it. In the case when the information stored on such a disk, the format of which is defined as "RAW", is not important for the user, then you can immediately click on the button "Format Disk" and start the file system configuration process.

However, if information is of paramount importance, then refrain from formatting the disk and go to the next section. "5" our article to get your data back. The formatting process will not be able to completely erase all the information on "RAW" disk, but can significantly complicate the subsequent data recovery process and reduce the total number of usable and usable entire files.

If the message is not displayed, then you can format the disk from the application "Disk Management"... You can open the application different ways... For example, right-click on the button "Start" located on "Taskbars", or press the keyboard shortcut together Windows + X, and open the pop-up menu. Select, among the available applications, a section "Disk Management" to access it directly.

In the application window that opens, click on "RAW" disk with the right mouse button and in the pop-up menu select the partition "Format".

In the new window, set the required formatting options and click the button "OK" to start the process.

You can also do formatting "RAW" disk from file explorer Windows... Right-click on the drive name and bring up the pop-up context menu... Select a section from the list of available actions "Format".

Set the required file system and others additional settings, if necessary, and press the button "Begin", thereby starting the formatting process.

At the end of your "RAW" the disk will have a new file system and is completely ready for further use.

5. Recovering files from disks in "RAW" using data recovery software

If you are interested in saving all information located on "RAW" disk, then you will have to use a data recovery program that allows you to perform such operations. One of such programs, which have received wide popularity and high user praise for the results achieved in recovering lost data, is a program from the company "Hetman Software"... It fully meets the requirements of users in a situation with an undefined partition. "RAW", has a pleasant and comfortable user interface, as similar as possible to appearance operating system Windows, is quite easy to use and has high rates of final recovered files.

A big advantage is the fact that the program implements a preview function of recovered files, which prompts users to preview or listen to the contents of any files before saving them. This approach allows you to be completely confident in the selection and preservation best versions recovered documents.

Download the installation file of the program from the official website of the company and install it on your computer or laptop. The installation process of the program will not take you much time and will not cause any particular difficulties thanks to step by step wizard installer. Follow its instructions and the installation of the program will be successful.

Open the program and find your "Raw" disk or partition.

Double-click it and, in the window that opens, select the type of analysis you need. Check the box "Complete analysis" to search all available information and restore the file system of the disk.

After setting the scan parameters, click the "Further" and start the process of analyzing and recovering possible information. It can take from several minutes to several hours, depending on the original disk size, the degree of damage to the file system, and other additional criteria. For the convenience of the user, the scan mode will be displayed in real time.

When finished, press the button. "Ready" and go to the preview window to select the recovered files and save them later. By clicking on each file, you can view its contents and choose the option that best suits you.

Noting all required files, press the button "Restore", with a lifebuoy depicted on it, and located on the main tape of the window.

The program will offer you a choice of several options for saving the marked files: saving to HDD, recording on "CD / DVD", create a virtual image "ISO" or unload by "FTP"... Depending on your preferences or needs at any given moment, set the indicator in the appropriate cell opposite the selected saving method, and then press the button "Further" to continue.

In the next window, check the necessary additional options, for example, specify the path to save files or use the proposed option, and click the button "Restore" to complete.

Now that you have restored all the files important to you, you can format your disk or partition in the format "NTFS" for later use using the method described earlier in the section "4".

Conclusion

Information is of the utmost importance and requires secure means of storing it. The reasons why you may lose access to a disk with important user information can be completely different. However, almost all of them can be eliminated using the internal tools of the operating system. Windows or thanks to third party data recovery software.

Most often, the file system of the disk 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 system unit from the outlet. Another reason is viruses that change NTFS to RAW format HDD disks... How to fix this problem, read this article.

What is the RAW file system?

If the disk has received the 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 ".

How to change RAW file system to NTFS

If the problem occurs on a non-system drive, but it contains important information that will be lost when formatted, use staff funds Windows or third party programs to fix the error.

Windows tools

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 was formatted in NTFS.

Also, the chkdsk utility will help when the system disk is damaged. But this will require boot disk or a flash drive.

Start your computer with bootable flash drive or disk → Select "System Restore".
Advanced options -> command line -> enter chkdsk drive_letter: / f.

Partition letters in a recovery environment differ from the names of logical drives. In order not to be mistaken, open in command line list of computer partitions.

Enter diskpart → list volume → the list will indicate which disk is the system disk.

Third party programs

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 the flash drive.

TestDisk

This is a multifunctional free utility that works with sections of hard disk using 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.

Download the archive with the program → run the file testdisk_win.exe as administrator → select “create” → enter.
Use the up / down arrows to select desired disk→ enter.
Specify the desired type of partition table (the utility will do it automatically) → enter.
To search for “lost” sections, select “Analyze” → enter → Quick Search → enter.
The utility will find "lost" volumes → press "p" to view the list of files.
Good to know! TestDisk does not work with Russian names, so they will not be displayed correctly.
Select "Write" to save the structure of the section.
If the partition is not found the first time, use the "Deeper Search" command and repeat all the above steps.

Alternative way recovery NTFS-formatting of a partition is presented in the video.

Most often, the file system of the disk 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 format of HDD disks. How to fix this problem, read this article.

What is the RAW file system?

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 ".

How to change RAW file system to NTFS

If the problem occurs on a non-system disk, but it contains important information that will disappear during formatting, use the standard Windows tools or third-party programs to fix the error.

Windows tools

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 was 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 -> command line -> enter chkdsk drive_letter: / f.

Partition letters in a recovery environment differ from the names of logical drives. In order not to be mistaken, open the list of computer partitions in the command line.

Enter diskpart → list volume → the list will indicate which disk is the system disk.

Third party programs

MiniTool Power Data Recovery

Important! This method is most effective if the RAW file system appeared on the flash drive.

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.

Download the archive with the program → run the file testdisk_win.exe as administrator → select “create” → enter.
Use the up / down arrows to select the desired drive → enter.
Specify the desired type of partition table (the utility will do it automatically) → enter.
To search for “lost” sections, select “Analyze” → enter → Quick Search → enter.
The utility will find "lost" volumes → press "p" to view the list of files.
Good to know! TestDisk does not work with Russian names, so they will not be displayed correctly.
Select "Write" to save the structure of the section.
If the partition is not found the first time, use the "Deeper Search" command and repeat all the above steps.

An alternative way to restore NTFS formatting of a partition is presented in the video.

If you do not know how to fix the RAW error on your hard drive, USB or SD card, if the CHKDSK utility does not cope with the task of fixing the problem of the PC file system, then this article will help you solve this issue.

How to fix the problem

Let's take a look at a classic example, in which it is likely that you will be able to see the situation with your drive.

With regard to USB flash drives, a situation may occur in which the computer stops recognizing logical partitions of the disk and even CHKDSK is powerless to help in recovering the RAW file system on an external drive. Perhaps formatting would have solved the issue, but not in a situation where the information on the disk is extremely important to the user and should never be lost. This applies to all storage devices, be it a USB flash drive or hard drive.

Usually, when USB or other storage devices become RAW, the main solution to the problem, as mentioned above, is to completely format the disk, since CHKDSK does not work with drives that have this status.

Use the following instructions to troubleshoot the problem.

Step 1. Recover data from RAW, USB or SD card.

To recover data from a RAW storage device, you will need the help of specialized software. Starus Partition Recovery will be an excellent choice and will help you move from a question to a direct solution in two clicks. The program will conduct a deep scan of any physical disk you choose and eliminate logical errors in them.

1. If you have a problem with your USB or SD card, connect them to your computer. Launch Starus Partition Recovery and find the RAW device you want to scan.

2. Depending on the mode you choose, Fast scan or Complete analysis, a computer scan will be performed to help locate lost and hidden files to RAW. The difference between the modes lies in the amount of information that will be detected. A complete analysis will help you find a lot more data.

3. The software offers the user preview found information and its recovery from the RAW device (selectively or completely). To restore important data, select the necessary files, right-click on any of them and press the Restore button.

4. Starus Partition Recovery offers extensive file saving capabilities.

You can:

Save data to hard drive.
Write to CD / DVD.
Create a virtual ISO image.
Upload via FTP.

Complete the process of exporting data in a convenient format to a convenient location.

Step 2. Fix “CHKDSK is not available for RAW, USB and SD cards” problem.

After recovering data from the disk, it's time to move on to fixing the cause of the error due to which the computer cannot read the device information.

Method one. Run an error check to fix the CHKDSK problem.

1. Open windows explorer and right click on the drive you want to recover and select Properties.
2. Now go to the tab Service, it is available in the top menu.
3. Press the key Verify to run the utility.

Wait until the scanning process is completed and then you can use a functioning disk again.

Method two. An alternative way to recover a disk.
One more at least effective method formatting a disk or flash drive - recovery using the command line. Follow the steps below to fix the RAW error:

1. Enter at the command line diskpart.
It is a utility that manages disk space.
2. Next, type list disk.
You will see a list of all disks. Select the one you want.
3. Dial select disk N.
Here under N we have designated a conventional number that corresponds to the disk number. You can put the one that suits your case.
4. Write attributes disk clear readonly.
This command will clear the attributes.
5. Enter clean.
The command will clean up the flash drive or disk that you are scanning.
6. Dial create partition primary.
This command will create a primary partition on the disk.
7. Finally, you can enter format fs = ntfs or fs = fat32 if there is a need for a second file system.

You can also try quick formatting using the command:
format fs = ntfs quick.

Step 3. Formatting and rebooting the RAW disk.

After recovery, logically bad sectors and restore the file system of a RAW disk, use the following instructions to reset and format RAW to NTFS.

1. Connect a RAW file system disk to your PC.
2. Open the explorer, right-click on the required disk and press the button Format.
3. Drop RAW to NTFS or FAT32 system and click OK to confirm the operation.

Upon completion of the process, your media will be ready to use.