How to Recover Data From RAW Partition? Guide for Windows, Mac, and Linux Users

Facing a RAW Partition in your drive or disk? Want to recover data from RAW partition? How to fix a RAW Partition? Want to format RAW drive? Don’t worry. This article answers all your questions and explains how to recover data from RAW partition across Windows, Mac, and Linux by prioritising data recovery using tools like Notchox over immediate formatting. Also, learn to repair drive errors using Disk Management, Command Prompt, or terminal tools to restore accessibility to your files. 

Quick Search: Don’t let a RAW partition crash your day. Recover files without formatting using Notchox partition recovery software. If not partition recovery software, the next best diagnosis is to format the drive using disk management or diskpart, then copy data from backup.

What is a RAW Partition? 

A RAW partition is the part of a hard drive, SSD, or USB that has lost or corrupted its file system (NTFS and FAT32) and is now unrecognisable to the Operating System (Windows/MacOS/Linux). Data in the drive is prone to numerous issues. Not only can data be lost or corrupted, but it can also become RAW. Meaning the data becomes unreadable to the OS.

For instance, you are copying data from your computer to a pen drive. Before the transfer finishes, you pull the USB drive out. The file system table didn’t finish updating. The next time you use it, it’ll say, “You need to format the disk in drive X: before you can use it.”

The following error messages indicate the File System corruption:

• Windows cannot access the disk
• External hard drive not recognized
• The type of the file system is RAW
• chkdsk is not available for raw drives

Due to power loss, improper ejection, cross-platform usage, and virus attacks, this can occur in an entire partition, a sector on a hard drive, or the whole drive. It’s important to diagnose and fix the issue immediately.

Is it Possible to Recover Data from RAW Partition?

Yes, it’s totally possible to recover data from RAW partition using built-in tools, commands, and data recovery tools. Think of RAW partition as a book where the index (file system) is missing/ damaged. The chapters are still there, but you (OS) don’t know on what page the chapter is, so you can’t find them. But when you flip through pages, the chapters are still there. You just need to rebuild the index again.

How to Recover Data from RAW Partition?

Recover data from RAW partition using specialised recovery software like Notchox before formatting the drive to safely extract your files to another drive. Avoid formatting, writing new data, or running chkdsk to prevent data overwriting. 

Be cautious: Cybersecurity news highlights that hackers use RAW disk reads to bypass EDR security solutions and steal files. An unexpected RAW partition could indicate an active cyberattack rather than simple corruption, making immediate recovery and drive reformatting essential.

Method 1: Using Notchox Data Recovery Software

Recovering data from RAW partition is possible using professional recovery software like Notchox. Designed to handle lost or damaged drive partitions, Notchox runs a deep scan, using intricate coding to precisely trace and recover data, bypassing errors to access areas of the drive inaccessible through Windows Explorer.

Key Features and Capabilities:

• High Success Rate: With a global user base, Notchox provides a 99% recovery success rate.
• RAW Partition Reconstruction: Recovers data from lost, inaccessible, RAW, or corrupted drives, including those showing as “unallocated” or needing formatting.
• Deep Scan and Deeply Embedded Search: Uses advanced modern algorithms to recover lost partition tables, MBR (Master Boot Record), and files that a quick scan can miss.
• Secure and Non-Intrusive: Works in read-only mode to prevent overwriting the original data during the recovery process.
• Versatile File System Support: It can locate and restore data from a wide range of file systems, including FAT, NTFS, exFAT, and ext2/3/4.
• Offline Functionality: The partition recovery does not require an active internet connection.

Download and install Notchox partition recovery software from the Notchox official website. Once installed, make sure the drive is connected to your computer. 

The partition recovery process includes:

• The software scans for metadata, the hidden service information that defines partition boundaries, file system structure, and locations to repair the system file structure.
• The software then scans the entire disk to locate the lost partitions and looks for signatures of the file system to recover them.
• You get to preview the recovered files of 1000+ formats. Once selected and recovered, you can proceed with the partition recovery.
• The software attempts to rewrite the damaged partition table based on the information restored. The partition is then visible to the operating system.

Method 2: Copying Data from Backup

Yes, absolutely! In fact, if you have a recent backup (e.g., internal backup, cloud storage, external backup), you are in a great position. Simply format the RAW drive with a healthy file system and safely copy your files back. 

When a drive becomes “RAW”, it means the file system is either gone or corrupted. Therefore, the data is unreadable to the operating system. However, the actual data is still there.

If your backup data is up to date, don’t waste your time fixing the damaged RAW drive.

1. Format the Drive: Firstly, format the RAW drive using Disk Management or diskpart CMD.
2. Copy Data Back: Plug in your backup data source and copy your files back to the new functional drive.

Note: If you do not have the backup, don’t format the drive before trying to recover the data.

How to Fix RAW Partition?

Once data is recovered using backup or data recovery software, the next step is to fix the RAW partition and make it usable again. Fixing a RAW partition involves formatting the partition and making it usable again.

Here is how to fix RAW partition, categorized by whether you want to format it or repair it without formatting:

Format the Partition

While the OS can’t read data from a RAW drive directly, the partition can be made usable again by formatting it with a new file system, though this process will delete any existing corrupted data on that partition.

Method 1: Using Disk Management

Use Disk Management once you have recovered the data. It is the best tool to reassign a usable file system (NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT) to a RAW drive or partition. Once formatted, the OS will recognize it again.

How to format a RAW partition using Disk Management?

In Windows:

1. Right-click on the Start or press “Win + X” and select Disk Management.

   

2. Right-click on the RAW drive. Choose Format.

   

3. Name your drive. From the drop-down, choose the File System and Allocation unit time and click Ok to erase and format the partition.

   

In Mac:

1. Go to Applications and select Utilities. Open Disk Utility.

   

2. From the left panel, select the drive you wish to erase.

   

3. Choose Erase in the top right.

   

4. In the open dialog box, enter the Name and choose the Format.

   

5. Confirm by pressing Erase. This will erase all data on the partition.

   

In Linux:

1. Search for and open Disk Utility.

   

2. From the left panel, choose the Drive you want to format.

   

3. From the two options: Format Drive and Format Volume, click on Format Drive.

   

4. From the Scheme, select Master Boot Record and click the Format button.

   

5. Confirm by clicking on Format again.

   

6. For authentication, enter the Password and click on the Authenticate button.

   

Once formatted, it will give you the option to make partitions of the drive.

Method 2: Using the diskpart Command

In case Disk Management fails, use diskpart to format a RAW partition. It formats by deleting all data and converts RAW into usable NTFS/FAT32 format.

1. You can run the diskpart command directly from Windows by typing diskpart in the search and pressing Enter.

   

2. Type “list volume” to list all the available partitions and press Enter.

   

3. From the listed volumes, type the one you want to format, for example, “select volume 3” and press Enter. It will format volume 3.

   

4. Type “format fs=ntfs quick” and press Enter to format. Wait for it to show 100 percent completed.

   

5. When diskpart successfully formatted the partition, the RAW partition became usable as before.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it, a complete breakdown of how to tackle the RAW partition. This article covered everything from what a RAW partition is to recovering your data on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Also explained how to fix it using Disk Management, Disk Utility, and terminal commands.

Remember the golden rule: Don’t format immediately! Always try to recover your files first.

And for the easiest, most reliable data recovery choice, Notchox – the best data recovery software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)