How to Recover Files from RAW Partition/Disk for Free

When a drive's file system becomes RAW, it means the drive is either unformatted or its file system is no longer recognized. This can happen due to various reasons such as a corrupted file system, a virus attack, or a sudden power failure. The drive will still be visible in the computer, but all its data will be inaccessible. To recover data from a RAW drive, specialized software is required that can read the drive's sectors and rebuild the file system.

• 💢 You need to format the disk in drive X: before you can use it. This is a prompt that appears when you try to open a drive that hasn't been formatted yet, indicating that the drive needs to be formatted before it can be used.
• 🚨 The message "Unable to access X: This volume does not contain a recognizable file system" indicates that the computer is unable to read or access the file system on a particular drive, in this case, drive X:. This error message suggests that the drive may be corrupted or that the necessary file system drivers are not loaded. To resolve this issue, you would need to ensure that all required file system drivers are loaded and check if the volume is not corrupted.
• 😩 The location is unavailable. Unable to access X:! The file or directory structure is corrupt and unreadable, the drive parameter is wrong, etc.
• 📑 The drive file system shows RAW.
• ⭕ The hard disk/partition capacity is showing as "0".
• ⛔ The computer is asking if you want to format the disk in drive X:. This means the disk is not properly set up to be used by the computer and needs to be prepared. The computer is giving you the option to format it now, which would erase any existing data on the disk and set it up for use.

If you encounter the above error messages, the system no longer recognizes your drive, which is likely due to an uncommon file system called RAW, indicating an issue with your hard disk and making it inaccessible. This can be frustrating, especially when trying to open the RAW drive or recover data from it. Fortunately, there are solutions to help you access and recover data from the RAW disk or partition.

Quick Navigation

Part 1: What Causes RAW Drives

Part 2: 3 Ways to Recover Files from a RAW Hard Drive for Free

Part 3: Comparison of the Three RAW Partition/Disk Recovery Free Ways

Part 4: How to Convert RAW File System to NTFS/FAT

Part 5: Tips to Avoid a RAW Disk

Part 1: What Causes RAW Drives

A RAW drive typically occurs when the file system on the external drive becomes corrupted or damaged, preventing the operating system from reading or writing data to the drive. This can be caused by a power outage during file transfer, a sudden shutdown of the computer, or a virus/malware infection that has targeted the external drive.

• 🚫 The drive's file system is damaged due to improper operations like forced shutdowns or power failures.
• 💽 The disk DBR information is corrupted.
• 🔋 The USB port's power supply is inadequate, leading to the file system on the disk changing when connected to a computer.
• ☹️ The repartition/formatting is not completed.
• 👾 The virus damaged some crucial data on the hard drive, causing the file system to become unrecognizable.
• 📋 A disk error occurred in the partition table area of the disk. This is a serious error and the disk may be damaged.

Part 2: 3 Ways to Recover Files from a RAW Hard Drive for Free

When using data storage devices like disk/partition, USB flash drive, external hard drive, or SD card, errors can occur that lead to them becoming RAW. Before attempting to recover data from a RAW drive, it's essential to follow some rules to ensure a successful free data recovery.

• 🖥️ CHKDSK on RAW drives is not recommended as it can cause more harm than good, potentially leading to further damage to the file system and making data recovery more difficult.
• 🛠️ Don't try to format the RAW drive or use software to repair it, as this may result in data loss.
• 🔖 You can use professional and free software to recover your important files. There are many free recovery tools available that can help you solve the problem without having to pay for them.

When a drive becomes RAW, it becomes inaccessible and your data is hidden, unable to be saved anywhere. Don't worry, the data isn't visible to us, but you can use a professional tool to help recover files from the RAW partition or disk. Three free data recovery software options are available to assist with this process.

Way 1: Use Qiling Free Data Recovery

The best free RAW drive recovery software offers a reliable option to recover data from a RAW hard drive. With advanced file recovery algorithms, it can extract over 1000 file types from 2000 storage devices, including Windows and Mac systems. Additionally, it can repair corrupted files during scanning and even recover files from a formatted hard drive on Mac or Windows 11/10.

1. Install and launch Qiling Free Data Recovery
2. To initiate the scanning process, select the "RAW disk" option and click the "Scan" button.

3. After scanning, your system's screen will show all the found files. You can preview them to decide what to return.
4. After selecting the files you want to recover, choose the "Recover" option to save them on your system or another storage device.

Way 2: Use TestDisk

To recover files from a RAW partition, using TestDisk is a bit tricky as it only recognizes the entire disk. It has a command line interface and is completely free.

1. Download and run TestDisk on your PC.
2. To create a bootable USB drive, select "Create" from the menu, then choose your RAW disk, select "Intel" as the boot mode, and finally click "Analyse" and then "Quick Search".

3. After analyzing the situation, you can use the up and down arrow keys to locate and select the lost files.
4. Click C to copy found files.

5. When the file transfer is complete, you go to the saved directory to check the files.

Way 3: Use DiskGenius

A powerful hard disk management program can help resolve various drive-related issues, making it an essential tool for users.

1. Select your RAW drive in the hard drive list.
2. Click on the File Recovery option in the header menu.
3. To save the target file, select it and right-click, then choose "Copy to" to select a location to save it to.

Part 3: Comparison of the Three RAW Partition/Disk Recovery Free Ways

All three tools can help recover files from a RAW partition/hard drive. Understanding their pros and cons can help you choose the one that suits your needs.

Part 4: How to Convert RAW File System to NTFS/FAT

After you recover RAW partition/disk for free with the help of third-party software, next, you need to convert the RAW drive to be recognized by the system so that you can continue to use it. Here, you can use the following two methods to accomplish it.

Methods 1, Change RAW to NTFS/FAT Without Formatting

When your hard drive becomes RAW, you can try setting it using CMD to fix it without formatting. To do this, open Command Prompt as administrator, type "chkdsk /f /r X:", where "X" is the drive letter of your RAW drive, and press Enter. This command will check the drive for errors and attempt to fix them.

1. Type "Command Prompt" in the search bar. When showing this app, click "Run as Administrator".
2. Run the command `chkdsk *: /f` in the Command Prompt, replacing `*` with the drive letter of the RAW drive, and press Enter.

Methods 2, Convert RAW to NTFS/FAT by Formatted

Since drive formatting involves huge data loss risks, you must recover data from a RAW drive before initiating the formatting process. Once data recovery is complete, you can format the drive. To convert a RAW drive to NTFS, FAT, and more, follow these steps.

1. To access your RAW disk or partition, open "My Computer" and select the RAW disk or partition under the "Devices and drives" option.
2. Right-click and select the "Format" option

3. In the new window, please choose a file system you want and click the "Start" button. Then, the software will guide you through the process of creating a bootable USB drive.

Part 5: Tips to Avoid a RAW Disk

To prevent a disk from turning into a RAW drive, it is recommended to follow some simple precautions. This includes regularly backing up important files, using a reliable antivirus software to protect against malware, and being cautious when downloading and installing software or drivers. Additionally, it is essential to avoid sudden shutdowns or power failures, and to ensure that the disk is properly unmounted before disconnecting it from the computer.

• 🔌 Please don't close it before its repartitioning/formatting process is over.
• ⛱️ When disconnecting an external hard drive from a computer, always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option to prevent data loss or corruption. This ensures a safe and proper disconnection.
• 👹 To avoid malware issues that can damage the RAW disk, keep your system updated by regularly running antivirus software.
• 📰 Regularly backing up your data and avoiding overuse of your storage device can help prevent the RAW drive problem and extend the lifespan of your drive.
• ⚙️ Regularly using a hard drive repair tool to check the status of the drive can help identify potential issues before they become major problems, allowing for proactive maintenance and data protection.

Conclusion

To avoid valuable data loss, it's essential to install the best free RAW hard drive recovery software, Deep Data Recovery, in your system. This will provide a permanent solution for any data loss situation, so you'll never have to worry about encountering a RAW drive and losing your data.

FAQ

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