What Is RAW File System? How to Fix RAW File System?

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The RAW file system is a strange and often confusing problem that can make your storage devices useless. It differs from popular ones like NTFS or FAT32 because the operating system can't recognize the format. This means that data can't be accessed. It can happen for several reasons, such as a damaged file system, a virus attack, bad sectors, or the wrong way to remove the drive.

Users often get warning messages telling them to format the disk using a RAW file system. This extreme step, on the other hand, could cause data loss. To get your data back and your storage device working normally again, you need to know what causes a RAW file system and how to fix it. This guide discusses the RAW file system and several ways to fix it.

What is a File System?

Operating systems use a file system to organize and control the information on a disk or partition. It lets you store information, retrieve it, and change it. For Windows, NTFS stands for "New Technology File System."

For Mac, HFS+ stands for "Hierarchical File System Plus," and for Linux, ext4 stands for "Fourth Extended File System."

Storage devices in RAW format don't have a file system that the running system can read. That means the system can't read or write to the disk, so you can't get to the files. A RAW file system can happen in several situations, such as:

Symptoms of a RAW File System:

These are some of the most common signs of a RAW file system:

• Inaccessibility: The file device can't be reached anymore. When something goes wrong, the operating system tells you, "You need to format the disk before you can use it."
• Error Messages: Things like "The volume does not contain a recognized file system" or "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" happen.
• Drive Properties: When I look at the drive's properties, I see that the file system is RAW instead of the type I expected, like NTFS or FAT32.
• Capacity Issues: The drive shows no free or used room.

How to Fix RAW File System?

There are different ways to fix a RAW file system based on the problem. Here are a few ways to do it:

1. Check the Drive for Errors

Tools built into Windows can check for and fix file system problems.

Using the command CHKDSK:

• The "Check Disk" (CHKDSK) tool can find and fix problems with the file system.
• Log in as an administrator to the CP.
• Type chkdsk X: /f and press Enter. X should be changed to the letter of your RAW drive.
• Let CHKDSK finish the check and fix any mistakes it finds.

Remember that CHKDSK might not work if the drive is badly damaged. It will then tell you that the file system is RAW and that CHKDSK is not supported on RAW drives.

Using Error Checking Tool:

• Open File Explorer.
• You can get to the RAW drive's properties by right-clicking it.
• Click Check on the Tools tab.
• Follow the prompts to scan and fix errors.

2. Use Disk Management

You can find and fix problems with the file system with the help of Disk Management.

• Click the Start button > right-click and choose Disk Management.
• In the list of files, find the RAW drive.
• To determine the problem, right-click on the RAW drive and select Properties.
• If the drive is not initialized, choose Initialize.

Be careful; initializing the drive will remove all the information. Before proceeding, consider data restoration.

3. Format the RAW Drive

If none of the other options work, formatting the drive is possible. However, formatting the drive will delete all your data, so ensure you have a copy of any important files or data recovery tools to retrieve them.

• Open File Explorer.

• Click and hold on the RAW drive, then choose Format.

• Pick the file system (like NTFS or FAT32) and your desired allocation unit size.
• To start formatting, click "Start."

4. Fix Partition Table or Master Boot Record (MBR)

Having broken MBR or partition tables can cause the file system to go RAW. It can be fixed with tools like TestDisk.

Using TestDisk:

• Get TestDisk and set it up.
• Use administrative rights to run TestDisk.
• Pick out the disk that has the RAW section.
• Pick "Analyze" to find problems with partitions.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the MBR or partition table.

5. Fix RAW File System on Mac

Disk Utility can help you securely and quickly fix a RAW drive on Mac:

• Go to Launchpad > Other > Disk Utility, open Disk Utility.
• Select the RAW drive and click on First Aid button.
• Run First Aid to repair the RAW drive on Mac.

Recover Lost Data from a RAW Drive

Data recovery software can help you recover lost data from a RAW drive or a formatted drive. If you want to recover lost data from a RAW drive, just download and install Donemax Data Recovery on your computer and then run it to help you recover all lost data.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Recovery on your computer and connect the RAW drive to the same computer.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Recovery, then select the RAW drive to start data recovery.

Step 3. Click on Scan button to find all existing files, deleted/formatted/lost files.

Step 4. Once the scan is completed, you can preview all recoverable files. Then select the wanted files and save them.

Donemax Data Recovery also offers disk repair tool to help you fix RAW drives on Windows or macOS.

Preventing RAW File System Issues

Conclusion:

A RAW file system can be a big problem, but it can be handled if you know what causes it and how to fix it. You can use built-in tools like CHKDSK and Disk Management, third-party recovery software, and professional services to deal with and fix a RAW file system.

Regular upkeep and preventative steps can also greatly lower the chance of these issues. By being aware and taking action, you can protect your data and ensure your storage devices last a long time.

FAQs About RAW File System

1. What is RAW file system?

If a drive or device has no file system or unknown file system, we call it RAW file system or RAW disk, RAW drive, etc. When a drive becomes RAW, we can't open it or can't access the files stored on it.

2. How to fix RAW file system?

On Windows, you can use Disk Management tool to fix RAW file system. You can initialize the disk, format the disk or create a new volume on the RAW drive.

On macOS, open Disk Utility, select the RAW drive and click on First Aid button. It will set up a new file system on the drive.

3. How to recover data from a RAW drive?

Data recovery software, such as Donemax Data Recovery can help you export or recover data from a RAW drive:

• Download and install Donemax Data Recovery on your computer.
• Open Donemax Data Recovery, select the RAW drive.
• Click on Scan button to deeply scan the RAW drive.
• Preview and recover lost files after scanning.

4. How to convert a RAW drive to NTFS?

If the RAW drive is not recognized, just open Disk Management. Then find the RAW drive, right-click it and choose Format. Select NTFS as the file system and format the RAW drive to NTFS.