How to change the raw file system to ntfs. Recovering data from a RAW partition using TestDisk

RAW file system: how to recover NTFS or FAT32

Hard disk drives (HDDs), which for various reasons are not detected by the operating system, receive RAW status and access to them is no longer possible. When you try to open such a disk, Windows advises you to format it, but if you follow this recommendation, all recorded information will disappear. It is advisable to restore an acceptable format: NTFS or FAT32.

Why are discs not recognized?

The sources of problems with the HDD can be different, and before doing anything to restore the format, it is worth identifying them. Here are the most common:

  1. Connection failures. For example, the user incorrectly disconnected the disk or the power supply stopped and the file system became corrupted.
  2. The cable that connects the drive to the board is broken.
  3. Malware that violates the data structure.
  4. Errors that occurred when reinstalling or updating the OS.
  5. In the case of a flash drive, the reason for changing the format to RAW may also be a malfunction of the USB connectors.
  6. Malfunctions of the PC motherboard.
  7. Errors when working with Acronis Disk Director.

Format recovery

To restore NTFS format from RAW, try the following:

  1. Perform a reboot: It's likely that file system glitches are random and easy to fix.
  2. Be sure to check the reliability of the cables and connectors - these are the most vulnerable components of the connection. From frequent use they become loose and do not provide proper communication.
  3. Try running the command line (Win+R, type cmd in the window that appears, then press Enter) and enter the following there: chkdsk I: /f (instead of I you will enter the name of the damaged disk). Thus, a start is given to checking the disk file system (especially if the NTFS information ordering method was initially selected) and correcting possible errors.

Running chkdsk command on Windows

Running sfc /scannow on Windows

Restoring format using special programs

If, when you try to check the HDD using the method described above, a message appears: “CHKDSK is not valid for RAW disks,” you can use programs that allow you to restore the NTFS format from RAW. Let's look at the most popular of them.

DMDE is a utility that looks for damaged partitions in the file system and helps restore the disk to NTFS status. After downloading and installing the program, you need to do the following:

  1. Launch the application.
  2. On the left, check the box next to the phrases “Physical devices” and “Show partitions”.
  3. Select the damaged drive and click OK. After this, the utility will find the RAW section and indicate it with a crossed out icon. If this does not happen, perform a full scan (the corresponding button is located at the bottom of the window).
  4. Now try to open the RAW volume and click “Recover” and then “Apply settings”.
  5. After this, as a rule, the HDD format changes to NTFS.

DMDE program window

Recuva

A simple and easy-to-use program that can fix RAW disks and flash drives. The procedure is as follows:

  1. Launch the application, select “Recover all files”, mark the damaged disk and click “Start”.
  2. The utility will detect files with a broken structure and correct the format to NTFS.

Piriform Recuva program window

TestDisk

The third utility that restores the disk format. Just download and run it, and then:

  1. Select New, press Enter.
  2. Then click on the problematic HDD, then Enter again and select Analyze and Quick Search.
  3. After executing the command, select Write to restore the information structure.

TestDisk window

If all these manipulations lead to nothing, most likely the disk has mechanical damage or its components do not interact correctly and it would be more advisable to show it to a specialist.

Have you ever encountered a situation where the disc format turned into RAW? How did you deal with a problem like this? Write about it in the comments.

RAW file system and how to return NTFS, FAT32

A number of users may be unable to access their hard drive (or flash drive). In the operating system, such devices receive the “Raw” status, and their file structure becomes inaccessible to the user. In this article, I will examine this dysfunction in detail, tell you what to do in a situation where the file system is RAW, as well as how to return NTFS, FAT32, what tools will help us with this, and how to use them.

Recovering disk partitions

What is the RAW file system

To understand that this is a RAW file system and how to return the NTFS, FAT32 format, you need to determine the meaning of the term “RAW” itself. Translated from Shakespeare’s language, the lexeme “Raw” means “raw”, “raw material”. Accordingly, in our case, this term refers to disks that are either not yet formatted, or the data structure on them is damaged (errors in the MBR partition table and MFT file table, viruses, PC hardware problems, and so on.).

Disk property illustration

Simply put, RAW disks are disks that are not recognized by Windows for various reasons. Typically, in this case, Windows recommends formatting such a disk, which should not be done, since the data on the disk will be lost as a result of formatting.

Reasons why a disk from NTFS and FAT32 becomes RAW

The reasons for the appearance of RAW disks instead of the usual NTFS and FAT32 file systems are as follows:

  • Sudden shutdown of such disks (loss of voltage in the network, physical disconnection by the user, problems with the power supply, etc.), as a result of which the integrity and structure of the data on the disk is disrupted;
  • Problems with cables connecting the motherboard and hard drive;
  • The operation of virus programs that violate the integrity of the bootloader, partition table, file structure, and so on;
  • Bad sectors on the hard drive, as a result of which the system structure on the hard drive is damaged;
  • Error in installing or updating the operating system;
  • Errors when working with various hard disk partition managers;
  • Not a tight connection between the flash drive and the USB connector of the PC (in the case of a flash drive);
  • Problems with the computer motherboard and so on.

How to return NTFS, FAT32 from RAW

  • Just try restarting your computer, the problem may be random;
  • Check the tightness of the cable connections to the hard drive, try using a different connector for connecting the hard drive on the motherboard, as well as a different USB connector on the computer when connecting an external flash drive;
  • Use the capabilities of the built-in CHKDSK utility (detailed instructions). Launch a command prompt as administrator and type

chkdsk X: /f (where X is the RAW drive letter)

The “f” parameter means correcting errors on the disk, that is, the CHKDSK utility not only looks for problems, but also fixes them.

Using the CHKDSK command

I also note that this command is relevant, first of all, for those disks that were formatted in the NTFS file system. Moreover, if you cannot boot the operating system, then boot using a bootable system disk or flash drive (you can use various “Live CD” builds), select “System Restore” there, go to “Advanced options” and then to “Command Prompt” , and there type the above command.

If you cannot access the command line from your PC, then it is recommended to connect your hard drive to another computer and check your disk for errors from it.

  • Use the capabilities of another system utility, sfc, created to check the integrity of system files. Also run the command line as administrator and write in it:

System utility sfc

  • If you have access to the operating system, then it is worth checking your computer for viruses using special anti-virus programs (for example, Web CureIt! or Malware-AntiMalware);
  • If there is no important information on the problem disk (or it is not significant), then the problem disk (or flash drive) can be formatted. Click on the “Start” key and type diskmgmt.msc in the search bar, the Disk Control Panel will appear. Right-click on the raw disk and select “Format” from the menu that appears.

If you have a RAW file system, return NTFS, FAT32 - using third-party programs

If you want to restore the NFTS and FAT32 file system, then you should use the functionality of special programs that will help us with this. I suggest programs such as Recuva and TestDisk.

Recuva

One of the popular programs for recovering lost files is Recuva. Download, install and run this product, select the option to restore all files, indicate the problem disk, enable the in-depth analysis option and click on “Start”.

After the scan is completed, the program will display a list of found files, mark them with checkboxes and click on “Recover”.

TestDisk

The second program that can help with the issue of the RAW file system is TestDisk.

  1. Download and install this program, run it as administrator.
  2. Select the “Create” command and press enter, select the raw disk with the cursor and press “Enter”.
  3. After selecting the desired type of partition table, press enter, then select “Analyze” and “Quick Search” (a quick search for problematic partitions will be carried out).
  4. After TestDisk finds the problematic volumes, click on “Write” to record the structure of the found partition.

TestDisk will help you return ntfs without data loss

How to change the file system of a flash drive [video]

Above I analyzed the problem when the file system is RAW. The most optimal tool for returning NTFS, FAT32 is to use the CHKDSK system command, as well as special programs that can restore the file structure of the problem disk. If none of the tips I suggested turned out to be effective for you, then I recommend contacting a service center - perhaps your hard drive has problems not of a software, but of a hardware nature, and it needs a thorough repair.

Recover RAW to NTFS or FAT32 on USB, SD, HDD without data loss

A disc that, for certain reasons, acquires RAW status is no longer a novelty in the world of modern technology and, fortunately, we have a solution to this issue. Don’t prematurely panic with the thought, “My USB drive is broken, on which I have an important presentation prepared for speaking at a corporate meeting.” There is a solution to the problem and it is very simple. You can not only recover important information from your disk, but also revive it without any loss.

Step 1. Recovering data from media with the RAW file system

First of all, you need to recover all the valuable data on the storage device. To do this quickly and efficiently, use the instructions below.

1. Connect your RAW device to your PC.
Run the recovery program Starus Partition Recovery, point the program to the drive to scan and perform analysis.

2. The application will scan to find deleted materials. If you need more information, please swipe Full analysis.

3. You will see a list of all folders and files in them that are or have been present on the device since the last formatting. You can preview, find the information you need and, if there are several files, select it, then press the key Restore and export data in a format convenient for you.

Useful articles

After exporting the data, you can move on to step number two, which will help format the device from RAW to NTFS or FAT32.

Step-2. Convert RAW file system to NTFS and FAT32

The main way to format a drive by changing the file system is a utility built into the operating system. Use the instructions below to format the disk.

Method one. We use the Disk Management menu.

1. Right click on the shortcut My computer or through the menu Start. Next, press the key Control.

2. Now select menu Disk Management. In the list that appears, you need to find the RAW device and right-click on it. Everything is fine on our PC, but if yours has the problem in question, then in the column File system it will be written RAW.

2. In the drop-down window, select Format, reset the name, restore the NTFS file system and click OK to confirm the operation.

Be sure to wait for the formatting process to complete without interrupting it or disconnecting your computer from the network.

Method two. Restoring RAW to NTFS/FAT32 using the command line.

Command Prompt, being a built-in Windows tool, helps operating system users solve many issues related to their PCs. One of the problems that it can fix is ​​the RAW file system. The system is not readable by Windows and therefore needs to be returned to its original format - NTFS or FAT32.

  • 1) Dial cmd and by right-clicking on the program that appears, run the utility on behalf of administrator.
  • 2) Dial diskpart, then press Enter.
  • 3) Enter list disk and press Enter.
  • 4) Write select disk 0 and then press Enter (Replace 0 to the number corresponding to your RAW drive).
  • 5) Enter clean and press Enter.
  • 6) Dial create partition primary and press Enter.
  • 7) Write format fs=ntfs or format fs=fat32 to format to your desired file system and then press Enter.
  • 8) Enter assign letter=S(The drive letter you just formatted will be replaced.)

Wait for the process to complete and close the Command Prompt. Your disk is now usable again.

Additional information to help you protect your drives from RAW.
If your device is healthy, fully functioning and you want to format it, then a sudden power outage may lead to an error in creating logical partitions, which in turn will change the NTFS/FAT32 system to RAW. By avoiding the situations described above, the chance of logical failures occurring is minimized.

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How to fix “CHKDSK is not valid for RAW drives” USB or SD cards

In case you don't know how to fix RAW error on your hard drive, USB or SD card, if you...

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RAW file system. How to return NTFS without losing files

What is raw markup on hdd, memory card and usb flash drive. How to fix the error “chkdsk is not valid for raw disks” and return ntfs.

A fairly common problem: the contents of the memory card or hard drive are inaccessible, Windows OS (7 - 10) displays the message “chkdsk is not valid for the disk.” The file system format is RAW.

What is raw, is it scary and how to fix the error (returning the NTFS file system) - read here.

What is a "RAW file system"?

When you connect the device to the USB connector, you see in the properties of the file volume information that the flash card has a raw file system type and is not formatted in the standard NTFS or FAT file system.

Windows OS assigns a RAW label to a volume with an undefined file system. This occurs if none of the system drivers could recognize the file system. In the case of Windows OS, we are talking about FAT(32) and NTFS.

Thus, RAW is not a file system, but a sure sign of an error in the hard drive.

RAW disk: reasons for the error

Most often, RAW markup appears if:

  • The disk or file volume is not formatted,
  • Access to the file system/disk/memory card is prohibited or limited,
  • There were reading errors, damage to the file system structure, and bad blocks.

A raw disk has some symptoms that definitely indicate problems with the disk. Among these symptoms:

  • Incorrect media type when reading disc
  • Windows displays "Cancel", "Retry", "Error" window
  • File system appears as RAW in applications
  • The error “chkdsk is not valid for raw disks” appears
  • Windows asks you to format the disk
  • File names contain non-standard characters
  • The message “Sector not found” appears

When does the error chkdsk not valid for raw disks occur?

File system information is stored in two places:

  1. MBR partition Table
  2. Volumes boot sector

If one of these sectors is damaged or not found, chkdsk reports that the utility is not valid for raw disks.

Why raw markup is bad

If your device has raw markup, you cannot view its contents or perform file operations. Also, the disk cannot be checked for errors or defragmented.

As a result, files stored on the disk become inaccessible, although they are physically still there and can be restored by any recovery program.

Important! If your disk or partition is a raw file system type, the Windows operating system will prompt you to format it, displaying a warning saying “The disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it?" (Disk not formatted do you want to format it now?).

Don't settle for this: if you format the HDD, you will lose all the data on the raw disk!

How to fix raw without data loss in EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

You can access files by correcting the MBR partition Table or converting raw to ntfs format. This can be done virtually without loss of data or formatting.

Since the raw disk still contains data, let's try to return it (if not completely, then at least the most valuable files).

We will need the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard program. How to use it when recovering data from raw – read below.

Step 1. Recovering data from a RAW disk or partition

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is quite a suitable program:

  • To recover data from raw disks,
  • If the SD card or flash drive in raw format is not formatted
  • To search for deleted hard drive partitions.

Data Recovery Wizard is a paid program when it comes to full-featured use.

Advice. Alternatively, you can try free apps like Recuva or the ones we suggest in [this review].

1. First, download the program from the developer’s website:

The program is compatible with Windows 7/8/10, although it can be installed on earlier versions of the OS.

2. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and in the window that appears, select the file types to recover (or activate the “All file types” option). Confirm the operation by pressing .

3. If a disk partition is deleted or detected in Explorer as RAW, use the Lost Disk Drives option.

Select the problematic disk with deleted data (Section “Lost disks”) and click the Scan button.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will search for files available for recovery on the specified disk or SD card.

4. Once the scan is complete, a list of found files will be displayed. Check the required ones and click the Recover button to restore.

Important! Always save files to another drive to avoid overwriting.

Step 2. Convert RAW to NTFS file system without data loss

After recovering files, the raw disk needs to be formatted in order to be used further for storing files. How to do it correctly, read here.

By the way. Windows OS allows you to format a disk to NTFS using the built-in Diskpart formatting utility via the command line.

Thus, if you recover data from a raw disk in advance, you can safely return the NTFS partition and format it. If you first format the disk and then try to recover the data, the likelihood of recovery will be significantly reduced.

If you are unlucky and accidentally formatted a raw partition, losing data on it, use the Auslogics File Recovery program (it is useful to read the article at the link).

Other useful programs for raw disk recovery

In addition to the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, you may find other tools useful for recovering raw partitions.

TestDisk

The free console utility TestDisk allows you to find lost file volumes. This way you can return files from the raw partition.

You can return ntfs using TestDisk as follows:

  1. Run the TestDisk utility
  2. Select Create → recovery disk → file system type
  3. To start searching, select Analyze → Quick Search from the menu
  4. Press P to search for files and Write to write the results to a table on disk

Minitool Power Data Recovery

Power Data Recovery has tools for searching for deleted/lost partitions: Lost Partition Recovery. With this feature you can quickly recover a raw partition.

Unlike the TestDisk console utility, Power Data Recovery has a very clear interface. Thanks to this, you can recover files and then format the problem area of ​​the disk in FAT or NTFS.

HDD Raw Copy

The Hdd Raw Copy program (developed by Toshiba) is designed for low-level and sector-by-sector creation of a disk image. It will be useful when creating a complete copy of a hard drive or SSD. Having created a duplicate disk, you can safely experiment with the RAW partition: restore files on it, format and convert to other file systems.

In addition, the HDD Raw Copy utility will be useful for backing up, creating duplicates, restoring information and migrating data.

Question answer

The next time you turned on the external HDD on USB, the OS “advised” to format the disk. I checked the controller itself, installing another HDD in it - it works. The problem is in the HDD itself. Please advise what to do.

Answer. If the OS advises you to format your hard drive, there may be a partition table violation. Try restoring the raw disk system using the TestDisk console utility.

Generally speaking, there is no RAW file system. In the Windows operating system, RAW means that the file system type was simply not determined correctly. This can happen for various reasons:

  • because the disk is not formatted;
  • the disk is faulty or its file system is damaged;
  • Correct disk access is not defined.

In this case, the operating system reports a corresponding error and offers to reformat the disk again. Of course, all data on it will be lost.

Naturally, this raises the question: if the flash drive has a raw file system, how can I correct the situation? And this can be done both with the standard tools of the Windows OS itself and with the help of third-party utilities.

Restoring the file system using Windows

  • call the command line using the keyboard shortcut - ;
  • In the window that opens, type the command: cmd;
  • The management console will open, where you will need to type the command: CHKDSK /F. The name of the disc may be different. For example: /C, /A, /I, etc.

A special utility program will launch, which will not only check the disk partitions for errors, but will also try to eliminate them.

You may also need to restart your computer before scanning.

After the program has completed its work, you will need to call another one to scan errors in real time:

  • the management console is called as described above;
  • enter the command: sfc /scannow.

So the problem can be solved: if the hard drive is raw how to fix it?

Restoring a file system using utilities

Restoring the file system of a flash drive without losing data is also possible using third-party utilities. They have various additional functionality and differ in the organization of the interface, but their common purpose is the same: to restore a damaged disk file system, but without losing a single bit of data.

Here are just a few of these programs:

  • RS Partition Recovery;
  • Mini Tool Power Data Recovery;
  • Test Disk (this utility does not work with file names written in Cyrillic);
  • Win Hex;
  • Get Data Back for FAT/NTFS (only for FAT and NTFS systems).

Unfortunately, sometimes you can encounter a situation when a user turns on a computer or laptop, and instead of some logical partition, a disk with an incomprehensible RAW format is displayed. Let's try to find out what this is. At the same time, let's look at some of the simplest ways to convert this format into a normal form.

RAW format: what is it?

If we talk about a format of this type, you need to clearly understand that, in fact, this is not even a format in the usual sense. This is a modified file system type.

When accessing such a section, you can note two types of problems that arise. Firstly, the volume may not be displayed at all in the file manager. And secondly, even if it is visible, then either there are no files on it, or the system suggests immediate formatting, since the file system is incompatible with the operating system (RAW format of HDD drives). How to fix this situation? You need to choose the right approach, because formatting a partition and destroying even non-displayed data is not the best option.

Why are HDD formats changing?

Before proceeding to solve the problem directly, it is necessary to clarify the reasons for changing the section structure. In general, it is generally accepted among experts that the RAW format of HDD disks (how to fix it to readable will be discussed later), as a result, can appear, for example, under the influence of some viruses that purposefully change the file system during a sudden power outage ( electricity) at the time of performing any operations that require direct access to the partition, etc.

Actually, after this, sometimes the disk can be visible even with the folders and files present on it, but performing operations, say, changing the volume label, formatting it using standard means, changing the size, and much more, becomes simply impossible. This happens because, roughly speaking, the file system changes or fatal errors appear in the partition table. However, there are several solutions on what to do if RAW format HDDs appear in the system. Let's take a closer look at how to correct this situation.

Correction method

Now let's look at the main aspects of the remediation processes. As is probably already clear, HDD recovery as the main task uses a solution that allows you to bring the partition’s file system into a form that would be perceived by the operating system itself (FAT32, NTFS, etc.). Please note that in most cases, even rolling back the system to a previous state does not give the desired result, so it is not worth doing this. It's just a waste of time.

To begin with, you can try to make sure that the section displays files and folders, which in some cases makes it possible to copy them to another location, for example, to the same removable media.

How to make files visible and copy them to another location?

In this case, the RAW format is processed using a very interesting utility called MiniTool Power Data Recovery (the program belongs to the class of shareware).

After installation, you need to launch the Lost Partition Recovery module in the application, select the required partition and run a Full Scan. When the process is complete, the program window will display a list of all available files. All you have to do is mark the required data and click the Save button. The application will prompt you to select a location where the selected files will be copied. Specify it and activate the process. After this, you can start formatting the partition. If the procedure is not available, proceed to the next step.

The simplest way to restore the format using the system

Now let's look at how to convert RAW to NTFS using Windows' own tools (especially since this is what this solution is best suited for).

First, you should launch the command line (cmd) from the Run menu (Win + R). Please note that HDD recovery can only be done in this way; a standard partition scan in a Windows environment will not give any results.

Now it all comes down to just typing the command chkdsk “drive letter”: /f (for example, in the case of drive D, it will look like chkdsk d: /f) - and pressing the enter key. All that remains is to wait for the process to complete, during which the file system will be restored, and reboot the system.

By the way, this method is ideal for system drives in file systems that previously had an NTFS structure. Only when using this technique will the computer terminal or laptop need to be booted from a boot or recovery disk.

Correcting the format using the TestDisk utility

At this stage, we will consider another aspect of the topic “RAW format of HDD disks: how to fix it.” TestDisk (a utility for quickly restoring the original format) is best suited. The main advantage of this application is that it does not require installation. Because it comes in a portable version. Minus - it does not have a Russified interface and works in a DOS-like mode.

So, let's start restoring the HDD. At the first stage after starting the program, you need to select the creation of a new log file (Create item) and press the enter key. Then, use the arrows to select the desired disk or partition, after which the application will automatically determine the type of partition table (it can be changed manually, but I don’t think this should be done).

Next, you need to first use the analysis line (Analyse), and then quick search (Quick Search). After each action, press Enter. When the lost partition is found, you should use the option to save the structure (Write). Otherwise, if the desired section is not displayed in the list of search results, you should use Deeper Search, and then follow the steps just described to save the structure. Now, as in the previous option, you just need to restart your computer or laptop. The problem should go away.

Using Ontrack EasyRecovery

Here is another program that allows you to convert the RAW format of HDD disks. How can I fix it using this utility? As easy as pie.

In principle, the application works almost similarly to the TestDisk program, but many users can be attracted by the fact that it has a beautiful and user-friendly interface. By the way, many experts call this software product an indispensable tool when it is necessary to recover large disk partitions. The only negative is that the program is paid, but I think this is not a problem for our people. In the vastness of the Runet you can easily find activation keys, patches, and key generators for it.

Conclusion

What's the result? At the moment, the RAW format of HDD disks has been considered. I think it’s already clear how to fix it so it’s readable by the system. As for what exactly to apply depends on the specific situation. For example, if formatting using your own means is possible, you can display the files and copy them to another location. This is, so to speak, to be absolutely sure. You can also use the command to scan and restore the partition to its original state, which is provided in the system itself, but this process can take a very long time if the volume is large enough.

On the other hand, third-party utilities, described just above, are also perfect for simplifying user actions. Another thing is that some users will not accept the DOS interface of the TestDisk application. However, it is easy to get used to it. Moreover, as already mentioned, this is a portable version, which means you can always have it on hand and run it from the same flash drive. If you don’t like it, please use the similar Ontrack EasyRecovery application with a graphical shell. True, some may object to the question of cost, but here it is worth deciding for yourself what is more important: money or a hard drive with the information stored on it? In addition, among all such utilities, these two are the most powerful, and sometimes you won’t get high-quality results from free software. However, the choice is up to the users themselves.

I go to my work disk...
Stop. More precisely, I'm trying to go to
your work disk... and drive E:
no :(. Instead it is empty
unallocated space

From the memories of Horrific
Xakep v.11.01(35) p.27

Happens even to great gurus
troubles of this kind. Not from them
no one is insured. I'll try to tell you
how can I recover data in such
situations. After all, most likely the data is nowhere
not shared, as they were, they remained on the disk.
The service area is simply damaged
section. So let's try to figure it out
how it works, and having understood, we will work out
algorithm of actions.

Information about the NTFS structure is quite scarce,
and, due to the closure of the main
specifications for it, obtained like this
called method. Like other file systems, NTFS
divides the disk surface into clusters. Size
clusters have a fixed size,
selectable from the interval from 512 bytes (1 sector)
up to 64 KB (128 sectors). Commonly used
cluster size is 4 KB (8 sectors). Every
file system element, including
official (which is usually called
metafiles) is a file.
Metafiles are located in the NTFS root directory
section and begin with the name symbol "$",
Main service file - $MFT (Master File Table) -
a list of absolutely all files stored in
section, including MFT. Again
a formatted NTFS partition looks like
in the following way:

Space for the MFT file is allocated immediately and with
large margin, usually 12.5% ​​(but maybe
25%, 37.5% and 50%) of the section volume. Remaining
space intended for storage
file contents. However, the OS, when
necessary, can reduce space,
allocated for the MFT file when the space for
the contents of the files are full. For this, in
current versions of NTFS, remaining free
The space allocated for the MFT file is reduced
doubling, thereby increasing the space,
allocated for content placement
files. And when the OS informs you that it is free
place, then this is the sum of free space in both
parts of the partition (reserved for MFT
file and space allocated for content storage
files). But files are not only added to
section, but are also removed from it. And in this
In this case, it is possible to increase the space again,
allocated for the MFT file. At the same time, in the office
area may contain the contents of files,
which will remain there. MFT file will start
fragment, although this is not good.
Once again, what has been said applies to
the newly formatted partition. When I
added using Partition Magic program
unallocated space before NTFS
partition to the NTFS partition (F:), then I have MFT
starts from cluster 1731201, although the usual
value - 4.

The MFT itself is divided into fixed
1 KB in size (2 sectors) each. First 24
records are service files, and the first
MFT itself is on the list. Due to the special importance
MFT file, copy of first four records
stored in the $MFTMirr file somewhere in the area
middle of the section. Also in the last sector
partition (for Win"2k/XP) a backup copy is stored
boot sectors. Thus, for
partition recovery must be found and
copy the first 4 to the beginning of section
MFT records from backup and possibly itself
boot sector.

To work we need any disk
editor. The main thing is that he can see everything
your disk space. Can
use DiskEdit from Uncle Norton from
Norton Utilities package
2002 or standard disk editor Win"2k -
Disk Probe, for which you need it from a Windows distribution from
folders Support\Tools install additional
tools, including Disk Probe. Also
you will need the PartitionInfo program from the Partition package
Magic. First, let's find out the physical
boundaries of the required NTFS partition. It's possible
done using the PartitionInfo program from
Partition Magic package.

In my case the NTFS partition starts at 5060538
disk sectors. (also available in the lower window
information in the format C:H:S) Now we get
information about the last sector number and
location of the MFT and its copy, why
press the Boot Record button...

So, the last sector of the partition is 5060538 +
3341456 = 8401994 (first sector of the partition + Total NTFS Sectors),
MFT starts with 8x4=32 sectors (MFT start cluster * Sectors
per cluster), MFT Mirr - c 417682 x 4=1670728 sectors (MFT Mirror start
cluster * Sectors per cluster). Let's clarify the size of a separate
records in the MFT file, for which by running
Partition Magic program by selecting the required partition,
by clicking the right mouse button, select the item
Properties In the window that appears, select
NTFS Info tab. As it should be, the size
records in an MFT file (File Record Size) is 1 KB (2
sector).

Launch a disk editor, for example Disk
Probe, and select menu items - Volume>. In the window that appears, double-click
mouse on the required section (in my case
this is G), press the Set buttons successively
Active and OK. Now let's move on to the sector,
containing a copy of the MFT. For this we choose
menu item - and in the opened
window, enter the sector number 1670728 and the number
required sectors (16) and press the Read button.
Now let's rewrite these sectors in place
MFT location, with 32 sectors. For this
select a menu item - .
We answer yes to the question of change
operating mode from Read Only to Read/Write, in
in the window that appears, indicate the sector with
which needs to be recorded (in our
In this case it is 32) and press the Write it button.
We confirm our desire once again and MFT
restored.

Now you need to copy it to your
place boot sector. For this
select a menu item - Then set it to active
required physical disk. It's similar
what we have accomplished for logical
disk. Now we need to go to the last one
sector of the partition being restored. Through
menu - enter the value 8401994
then we write this value into the sector
5060538. Be especially careful
since you are working with a whole disk and not
limited by the boundaries of the damaged
section!

All that remains is to run the chkdsk e: /f utility, which
will find and fix just great
number of errors, then congratulate
yourself with the saved section.

PS: Since all operations are potential
dangerous, don't be lazy to make a backup copy
partitions located on the same physical
disk as the partition being restored.

If a computer could be turned off like a pocket calculator, smart engineers and software developers would have realized this possibility a long time ago. Perhaps this will be the case in the future, but for now it is necessary to shut down the PC using the appropriate means of the operating system, otherwise disaster will inevitably occur. Changing the file system NTFS V RAW- just one of the troubles that can result from a sudden computer shutdown.

As a rule, a partition with such a file system is detected by Windows, but no information about the data written to it is provided, as if it doesn’t exist; the filling progress bar is not displayed in Explorer. When you try to open a section, you get a message thorny error "Can't access X:/. Reading is impossible, the disk is not formatted" or something like that.

Changing the partition letter or launching a utility to check the disk from its properties is also impossible. Only formatting is possible but do not rush to do this, otherwise all your files will be deleted.

If NTFS "turns" into RAW on the system partition, when you turn on the computer, a boot error appears, most often "Operating System not found" or “Reboot and select proper boot device”.

What is the RAW file system

No matter how strange it may sound, RAW just means the absence of a file system as such. More precise definition RAW is chaos, disorder of data on the disk. The error occurs when the Windows file system driver fails to determine its type. There may be several reasons for this, but the most likely is damage in the main file table area MFT, boot sector, as well as incorrect logical partition geometry values ​​in the partition table. Unformatted volumes can also be of the RAW type.

Recovering RAW volumes

The success of treating the error depends on the nature and extent of damage to the data responsible for Windows determining the file system type. There is no universal way to solve the problem, but in most cases restore normal reading NTFS the built-in utility, launched with the parameter, helps /f from the command line. In other cases, specialized volume recovery programs help, for example, TestDisk.

If your user data partition has become unreadable due to the appearance of RAW, you can reconstruct it from RAW to NTFS from a running operating system.

To do this, in a command prompt running as an administrator, you need to run the command chkdsk D: /f and wait until the disk is fully scanned.

If the system partition is damaged, it is advisable to connect the hard drive to another computer and check it, but you can also use any boot disk with Windows to check and correct errors, not forgetting, however, that the partition letters in the recovery environment will be different. For example, logical drive C will have a letter D .

If the reason for the appearance of RAW is minor damage to the file table MFT, most likely, the system can be restored even after the errors are corrected by the utility it will boot normally. If to incorrect entries MFT bootloader damage will be added, you should also run the following recovery commands in the console:

bootrec.exe /FixMbr
bootrec.exe /FixBoot

Note: This boot recovery method may not work for computers running in UEFI.

In some cases, it may be necessary to reinstall the operating system or restore it from a backup copy. As for user files on non-system RAW volumes, they usually remain intact and are perfectly readable after reconstruction in NTFS. However, there is a risk of accidental data corruption when reconstructing RAW with the utility or other programs are still available.

Therefore, if the data is of particular value, before you start fixing the main error, try to perform data recovery using specialized programs like R-Studio. Experience shows that they cope excellently with such tasks, restoring files even from severely damaged volumes. After this, you can simply format the problematic partition and transfer the recovered data to it.

 

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