Imagine connecting your hard drive or USB only to get an error: “Drive is not accessible. The file system is RAW.” That sinking feeling is all too familiar for many. The RAW file system basically means the drive is unreadable or unrecognized by your computer’s OS. It might sound like a lost cause, but the good news is: it’s not. This article explores how to convert a drive from RAW to NTFS without formatting – meaning you can potentially preserve your data in the process.
TL;DR
If your drive shows up as RAW, don’t panic or rush into formatting. You can often convert it back to NTFS without losing your data using powerful tools like CHKDSK, specialized recovery software, or command-line utilities. While CHKDSK doesn’t always work on RAW drives, recovery tools and disk repair programs often succeed. Just remember: every step matters — act carefully to avoid data loss.
What Is RAW and How Does a Drive Become RAW?
A drive with a RAW file system is essentially unformatted — at least, according to Windows. This means the operating system can’t read it and thinks it has no valid file system. This can happen due to several reasons:
- Improper ejection of external drives
- Corrupt partition table
- Virus or malware attack
- Power failures while writing to the disk
- Bad sectors or physical damage
When your drive becomes RAW, you lose access to your files. If you format it, you’ll lose the data as well, unless you recover it later. But is it possible to convert from RAW to NTFS without formatting and losing data? Let’s explore the options.
Things You Should Do Before Starting
Before jumping into recovery or conversion efforts, take some precautions:
- Stop using the drive immediately. Further writes can overwrite recoverable data.
- Do not format the drive. Even if prompted frequently by Windows, cancel any formatting requests.
- Create a backup image if possible. Using tools like Clonezilla or Macrium Reflect, create a sector-by-sector image of your drive.
Taking these steps will reduce your chances of permanent data loss.
Method 1: Use CHKDSK to Fix the RAW Drive (May Work)
The command-line tool CHKDSK can sometimes repair a RAW drive if the file system corruption isn’t extreme. Here’s how to try it:
- Search for Command Prompt in the Start Menu, right-click it and select “Run as administrator”.
- Type the following command (replace X with your drive letter):
chkdsk X: /f - Press Enter and wait. If you’re lucky, CHKDSK will repair the file system and restore the drive to NTFS.
Note: If CHKDSK gives an error message like “The type of the file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives”, it won’t work. Move on to the next method.
Method 2: Recover Files from the RAW Drive First
If CHKDSK doesn’t work, your best bet is to recover the data before attempting conversion. To do this, use reliable data recovery software. Some of the best tools include:
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
- Recuva by CCleaner
- MiniTool Power Data Recovery
- Disk Drill
Steps:
- Download and install any of the above tools on a different drive than the RAW one.
- Launch the app and scan the RAW drive.
- Recover and save important files to another safe location.
Once your data is secured, you can proceed to convert the RAW drive to NTFS safely. Even if you have to format later, you won’t lose your files.
Method 3: Convert RAW to NTFS Using Diskpart (With Caution)
Diskpart is a powerful disk management utility in Windows. You can use it to clean corrupted file systems and assign NTFS structure. However, this method may result in data loss unless you’ve recovered your files already.
Steps:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type:
diskpart - Then input the following commands one by one:
list volume
select volume X(replace X with the number of your RAW drive)
format fs=ntfs quick
Warning: This method will format the volume, so only use it if data recovery has already been done or the data isn’t important.
Method 4: Use Third-Party Tools to Convert Without Formatting
Some advanced tools claim to fix file system corruption without formatting. These often walk the line between data recovery and disk repair. Popular ones include:
- TestDisk – Open-source tool that repairs partitions and recovers lost ones.
- Stellar Data Recovery – Offers options to rebuild partitions and access RAW drives.
- AOMEI Partition Assistant – Useful for managing and converting file systems.
TestDisk, in particular, is well-known and powerful but has a bit of a learning curve. Here’s a simplified usage guide:
- Download and run TestDisk (no installation required).
- Select “Create a new log”.
- Choose the RAW disk and analysis option.
- Let it scan for partitions. If it finds any valid NTFS structures, you can recover them.
Tip: TestDisk doesn’t write to the disk unless you tell it to, so it’s relatively safe to experiment.
FAQs
Q: Can I recover files after formatting a RAW drive to NTFS?
A: Yes, but it’s best if you use recovery tools immediately after formatting. The more you use the drive post-format, the lower your chances.
Q: Why does CHKDSK fail on some RAW drives?
A: CHKDSK relies on file system metadata to function. If that structure is severely corrupted or missing, it can’t interpret the disk.
Q: Is there any risk in converting RAW to NTFS?
A: Yes—if you proceed without recovering your data first, chances are you’ll lose it, especially if formatting is involved. Always back up first.
Final Tips and Recommendations
Converting a RAW drive to NTFS without formatting isn’t always a straightforward task, but it is possible under the right conditions. Here are some takeaways:
- Try CHKDSK first — it’s non-destructive and easy.
- If CHKDSK fails, recover your data before doing anything else.
- Avoid immediate formatting unless you’ve secured your files.
- Use advanced tools like TestDisk to repair partitions.
And most importantly…
Always back up your data regularly. Prevention is better than cure when it comes to file system errors and drive failures.
