External hard drive in raw format​

External hard drives are widely used for storing large amounts of data, ranging from personal files to business documents, photos, videos, and more. However, one of the most frustrating issues users encounter is when their external hard drive suddenly shows up as RAW format instead of the expected file system (like NTFS, FAT32. or exFAT). This typically happens when the drive becomes corrupted, improperly ejected, or experiences hardware issues. When a hard drive switches to RAW format, it becomes inaccessible, and you may see error messages like:

What is RAW Format?

Before diving into the recovery process, it’s important to understand what RAW format means.

A RAW file system is essentially a state where the external hard drive’s file system is not recognized by the operating system. Instead of being recognized as NTFS, FAT32. or exFAT, it is shown as an unformatted or unallocated disk.

When your drive is in RAW format, it cannot be accessed in the usual way because the file system metadata has become corrupted or erased. RAW is not a “true” file system; it’s a default state where the data remains intact but is not accessible without proper recovery or reformatting.

Common Causes of RAW Format

File System Corruption: One of the most frequent causes is corruption of the file system. This can occur due to improper ejection of the drive, power outages, or software crashes during file transfers.

Virus or Malware Infection: Malicious software can alter the file system, leading to corruption or changing the file structure of the drive to RAW.

Bad Sectors: Physical damage or bad sectors on the external hard drive can cause the drive to fail to recognize its file system, defaulting to RAW.

Partition Table Corruption: The partition table, which defines how data is stored on the drive, can become corrupted, leading to the drive becoming RAW.

Faulty Hardware: Physical failure of the drive, such as a damaged controller or malfunctioning cables, can also trigger the RAW file system error.

Incompatible File System: Sometimes, the drive may be formatted with a file system that’s not supported by the operating system, leading to it being recognized as RAW.

Signs that Your External Hard Drive is in RAW Format

To confirm that your external hard drive is in RAW format, look for the following signs:

Error Message: As mentioned earlier, when you try to access the drive, you might see an error message like “The disk is not formatted.”

Disk Shows as Unallocated: When viewed in the Disk Management tool (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac), the drive may show as “Unallocated” or “RAW.”

No Drive Letter: The drive may not show up under “My Computer” or “This PC” in Windows. Instead, it may appear as an unknown disk with no assigned letter.

Data Recovery Methods

When your external hard drive shows up as RAW, the primary goal is to recover your data before taking any steps like reformatting the drive, which could potentially erase it. There are a few recovery methods that can be employed to get your data back.

1. Using Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is a versatile and efficient software tool designed to help users recover lost or deleted data from various storage devices, including external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, and more. It is particularly useful for individuals who need to recover files that have been accidentally deleted, lost due to formatting errors, or corrupted by system failures.

One of the key features of Panda Assistant is its user-friendly interface, which allows even novice users to perform data recovery tasks with ease. The software is designed to guide users through the process step by step, ensuring that the recovery process is as straightforward as possible. Panda Assistant supports a wide range of file types, including documents, photos, videos, music, and even emails, making it suitable for both personal and professional data recovery needs.

Features of Panda Assistant

Comprehensive Data Recovery: Panda Assistant can recover a variety of file formats, from commonly used documents like Word and PDF files to media formats like JPEG, PNG, and MP4. It can also recover emails, archives, and database files, making it a versatile tool for all kinds of data recovery scenarios.

Support for Various Devices: Panda Assistant is compatible with different types of storage media. It works with hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and other types of flash storage, providing a wide scope of utility for users across various devices and storage systems.

Deep Scan Technology: The software includes a powerful deep scan feature that thoroughly examines your storage device for traces of lost data. This ensures that even data that has been overwritten or hidden is detected, increasing the chances of successful recovery.

Preview and Selective Recovery: Once the scan is complete, Panda Assistant allows users to preview the files before recovery. This helps to avoid the recovery of unnecessary files and ensures that only the most important data is restored. Users can selectively recover specific files or folders, saving time and storage space.

Safe and Secure Recovery: Panda Assistant ensures that the recovery process does not overwrite existing files on the storage device, making it a safe choice for those who want to avoid further data loss. The software is designed to recover data without causing any additional harm to the drive, providing peace of mind for users.

Works with Multiple File Systems: Whether your storage device uses NTFS, FAT32. exFAT, or any other file system, Panda Assistant can work with a wide range of formats, making it a highly adaptable tool for users with different types of file systems.

User Support and Documentation: Panda Assistant comes with a detailed user manual and a support team ready to assist with any issues that arise during the recovery process. This ensures that users have access to the help they need, even if they encounter problems.

2. Using CHKDSK Command (Windows)

For those who prefer built-in tools, the CHKDSK command can sometimes fix file system errors and allow access to data. It’s not a guaranteed method, but it can help in cases of minor corruption.

Steps to Use CHKDSK:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Type the following command, replacing X with the letter of your external hard drive:

bash

chkdsk X: /f

Press Enter to execute the command. The tool will attempt to fix the file system and recover the drive.

While this method can sometimes resolve corruption and make the drive accessible, it may also cause data loss if the file system is severely damaged. Always back up data first if possible.

3. Using Disk Management (Windows)

If your external hard drive is showing as unallocated, you can use Windows Disk Management to attempt recovery without overwriting data.

Steps to Recover Using Disk Management:

Open Disk Management: Press Windows + X and choose Disk Management.

Locate the RAW external hard drive. It may appear as “Unallocated.”

Right-click the drive and select New Simple Volume.

Follow the prompts to create a new volume. Be cautious when doing this—creating a new volume might overwrite data.

If the drive is not accessible after this step, use data recovery software to recover data.

4. Using a Linux Live CD

Linux operating systems are often more forgiving when it comes to file system errors. If your external hard drive is showing as RAW, you can boot from a Linux Live CD and attempt to access the drive.

Steps to Use a Linux Live CD:

Download a Linux distribution like Ubuntu and create a bootable USB stick.

Boot your computer from the USB stick.

Plug in the RAW external hard drive and open the Terminal.

Use the lsblk command to find the drive.

Attempt to mount the drive using the mount command:

bash

sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt

If successful, you can copy the files to another drive.

5. Manual Data Recovery (Advanced Users)

If all else fails, professional data recovery services might be required. These services often involve specialized tools and techniques to retrieve data from physically damaged or heavily corrupted drives.

While this is the last resort due to the high cost, it’s sometimes the only way to recover important files if they are inaccessible through software methods.

How to Prevent RAW Format Issues

After recovering your data, it’s important to take steps to prevent future RAW file system errors. Here are a few precautions:

Proper Ejection: Always safely eject your external hard drive before unplugging it to prevent file system corruption.

Regular Backups: Keep regular backups of your important files on a separate drive or cloud service.

Avoid Virus Infections: Use antivirus software to protect your drives from malware.

Physical Care: Handle external hard drives with care to prevent damage.

About us and this blog

Panda Assistant is built on the latest data recovery algorithms, ensuring that no file is too damaged, too lost, or too corrupted to be recovered.

Request a free quote

We believe that data recovery shouldn’t be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve designed Panda Assistant to be as easy to use as it is powerful. With a few clicks, you can initiate a scan, preview recoverable files, and restore your data all within a matter of minutes.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

More from our blog

See all posts