How to convert RAW to NTFS without losing data?

Data Recovery
1

I accidentally formatted an external hard drive and now it’s showing as RAW. Is there a way to convert it back to NTFS without losing the data? I really need help recovering important files.

2

Looks like you’re facing a tricky situation with your external hard drive showing up as RAW. Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and it’s definitely possible to resolve this without losing your important files. Here’s what you can do:

1. Understanding the Problem

When your drive shows up as RAW, it pretty much means that the file system is corrupted or missing, and your computer can’t recognize it as NTFS anymore. The data is still there; it’s just that the OS doesn’t know how to access it properly.

2. Data Recovery First

Before you attempt to convert or format anything, your top priority should be to recover your data. To do this, you’ll want to use reliable data recovery software. I highly recommend Disk Drill

Disk Drill Screenshot
Disk Drill Software1536×912 193 KB
Data Recovery Software (https://cleverfiles.com/lp/data-recovery-software.html). It’s pretty user-friendly and supports various file systems, including RAW drives. Here’s a step-by-step on how you can use it:

  • Download & Install Disk Drill: First, go to their website, download, and install the software on your computer. Make sure you don’t install it on the RAW drive to avoid overwriting any data.
  • Scan the RAW Drive: Start Disk Drill and select your RAW external hard drive from the list of available drives, then initiate a full scan. The software will comb through your drive to locate recoverable files.
  • Preview & Recover Files: Once the scan is complete, you can preview the files and select the ones you need to recover. Save these files to a different storage location, not back on the RAW drive.

3. Fixing the File System

Option 1: Using CMD (Command Prompt)

Once you’ve successfully recovered your data, you can try to repair the drive using built-in Windows tools.

  • Run CHKDSK: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type:
    chkdsk X: /f /r
    Replace X: with the letter of your RAW drive. CHKDSK will attempt to fix the file system errors. Note: Be cautious with this as it might sometimes not work on RAW drives, but it’s worth a try.

Option 2: Disk Management (Reformatting as NTFS)

If CHKDSK doesn’t work, you might need to format the drive. Since you’ve already recovered your data, this shouldn’t be an issue.

  • Disk Management Tool: Open Disk Management by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Disk Management.
  • Format Drive: Locate your RAW drive, right-click it and choose to format it. Select NTFS as the file system and proceed with the format.

4. Verify the Drive’s Health

It’s a good idea to ensure the hard drive isn’t physically failing. You can use tools like CrystalDiskInfo to check the SMART status of your drive. If you find any issues, it might be best to replace the drive to avoid similar problems in the future.

Pro Tips:

  • Always keep regular backups of your important files to avoid such panicky situations.
  • If data recovery seems too complex or you’re not tech-savvy, you might consider reaching out to a professional data recovery service.

Hope this helps! Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

3

Oh man, that RAW situation can be such a headache! I see @byteguru gave some solid advice, but let me throw in a twist based on my experience messing around with corrupted drives.

Data Recovery from RAW

Before Anything: The number one rule here is don’t write anything onto the RAW drive until you’re sure you’ve recovered your data.

Software Alternatives

While Disk Drill is a popular choice, it’s always good to have plan B. Tools like Recuva and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard also have a pretty good track record. These might offer you slightly different scanning algorithms that could snag files missed by other tools. Remember, more scans = better chances.

Here’s a quick rundown for using EaseUS (similar to Disk Drill but hey, options are nice!):

  1. Download & Install EaseUS: Grab it from their website.
  2. Launch & Select Drive: Fire it up and pick your RAW drive from the list.
  3. Scan & Recover: Start the scan. Once it’s done, preview your files and save the important ones somewhere safe (not on the RAW drive).

Cracking the RAW Nut

Dual-Boot with Linux

Now, if Windows tools don’t quite cut it, a Live Linux USB is your friend. Sometimes Linux can mount these RAW partitions where Windows throws a tantrum.

  1. Create a Live USB: Use something like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with a Linux distro like Ubuntu.
  2. Boot into Linux: Pop that USB in, reboot your machine, and boot from the USB.
  3. Access the Drive: Open the file manager in Linux, and see if it can access the RAW drive. If you’re lucky, you can copy your data out directly.

Fixing the File System

CMD Alternatives

I noticed @byteguru mentioned using CHKDSK, but that can be hit or miss. Another command you can use via CMD is TestDisk. This open-source tool can rebuild partition tables and repair boot sectors.

  1. Download TestDisk: From CGSecurity.org.
  2. Run TestDisk in CMD: Navigate to the directory where TestDisk is located using CMD. Type testdisk_win.exe.
  3. Follow Prompts: Select the affected drive and let TestDisk analyze it. It can identify and fix issues with the file system.

Disk Management Reformatting

If recovery is successfully done:

  1. Open Disk Management: Right-click the start button, select “Disk Management.”
  2. Format Drive: Find your RAW drive, right-click it, hit “Format,” and make sure to select NTFS.

Long-Term Tips

  • SMART Tools: CrystalDiskInfo (as byteguru said) is great, but for a more in-depth analysis, try GSmartControl. It offers a broader range of tests.
  • Regular Backups: Use tools like Macrium Reflect or Acronis True Image to create regular system images and backups.

A Note on Professional Help

If all this sounds too much like geek-talk or you’re hitting walls, don’t hesitate to consult with professional recovery services. It can be pricey but way safer if those files are irreplaceable.

Final Thoughts

Handling RAW drives can be daunting. Recovery software provides a DIY method, but never underestimate the power of booting into a different OS to salvage data. And hey, moving forward, set up a decent backup routine. You’d thank yourself next time the tech goblins strike!

Stay cool, and hope you get your files back!

4

Alright, jumping into this RAW to NTFS dilemma. I won’t regurgitate what @codecrafter and @byteguru already laid out solidly, but let’s stir the pot a bit and add some extra flavor.

Understanding and Diagnosing Fully

You’ve formatted your drive and now it appears RAW; essentially, Windows says, “Nah, I can’t read this gibberish.” This is symptomatic of a corrupted file system. Not all doom and gloom though, with your data still onboard, we just need to reestablish coherent communication.

Different Recovery Angles

Those guys recommended Disk Drill which is solid. Let’s diversify the toolkit alphabet just a bit.

Beyond Disk Drill

Disk Drill is quite friendly to users, with a clean interface and handy features, but it isn’t the be-all-end-all. For instance:

  • Pros: Broad data recovery support, intuitive interface, and strong algorithms.
  • Cons: Cost can be a bit high, and some users report slower deep scans.

Plan B - R-Studio:

  • Availability: Offers a advanced interface with more forensic-grade capabilities. It’s definitely not as user-friendly, however.
  • Effectiveness: Powerful recovery for situations even where other tools might falter.

Here’s the route on R-Studio:

  1. Install: Download and install R-Studio on your main drive.
  2. Scan Your RAW Drive: Dive into the techy depths, setting parameters to scan for lost files/partitions.
  3. Recovery: Extract those precious bits and bytes to a safe drive.

Linux Alternatives

I noticed Linux wasn’t deeply explored. Sometimes, Windows is a tad stubborn. Surprisingly, Linux can sometimes bypass Windows’ stubbornness.

  1. Make a Live USB Drive with Ubuntu*:
    1. Create your live USB with a tool like UNetbootin.
    2. Boot into Ubuntu and attempt to mount your RAW drive. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type sudo fdisk -l to list drives.
  2. Copy Data: Provided Ubuntu can read the drive, copying your data to another external drive can often be swift and painless.

Fixing the File System Nuances

The traditional chkdsk mentioned might not always cut it. Try TestDisk which can do deeper under-the-hood fixes:

  1. Using TestDisk:
    1. Download TestDisk and unpack it.
    2. In Command Prompt, navigate (e.g., cd C:\testdisk-7.2).
    3. Run testdisk_win.exe.
    4. Follow the prompts carefully to identify partition structures and repair the drive.

CMD Reformatting Specifics

A potential alternative is using PowerShell, which power-users might appreciate:

Get-Disk | Select-Object -Property Number, Model, OperationalStatus, Size, PartitionStyle

This command gives detailed info which helps deciding your next steps. If all fails, reformat using DiskPart might be the ultimate route:

diskpart
list disk
select disk X
clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick

(The valuable data here is assumed recovered by now.)

The SSD and Health Diagnostics

Using CrystalDiskInfo or GSmartControl:

  1. Both tools provide SMART reports with thorough details.
  2. GSmartControl specifically offers a suite of diagnostics helping diagnose if hardware failure looms.

Long-term Thoughts

Once you’re back on track, get on the backup train:

  • Tools such as Backblaze for continuous offsite backups.
  • Cloning tools like Clonezilla for mass redundancy strategies.

Real Talk on Professional Help

While you CAN spend hours in this digital dance, professional recovery services save time and pain - especially for essential data. Assess the worth of your time vs. the price tag of recovery.

In short, varying your recovery software and leveraging different operating systems can drastically improve your chances of success. Linux can parachute into the rescue when Windows tools tap out. Using terminal commands consciously and leaning on forensic-grade software can sometimes restore order from chaos. Remember to keep your data robustly backed - those digital goblins like to play rough.

Good luck, and may your files find their way back home!