A filesystem is the way files are organized on a storage device. Operating systems use filesystem to access and keep track of data residing on the storage. In absence of a file system, the partition is called a Raw partition and it cannot be used to store data. Examples of file systems are NTFS, HFS+, FAT and more. Normally, a Raw partition is not accessible and requires formatting it to make it usable. In addition, before a partition can be used, it needs to be mounted in the system for the operating system to work with it. NTFS file system was developed by Microsoft and is widely used in its systems. In this article, we will discuss identifying Raw partition, why a partition may change from NTFS to Raw and recovery options.
Identifying Raw partition:
A Raw partition can be identified with following characteristics:
• The system will ask to format the partition before it can be used. It is advised not to partition the partition if it contains data as this will lead to loss of data
• During certain console operations system will pop up an error saying filesystem cannot be identified. This indicates that a partition was not at all formatted or it has changed to Raw partition due to an error
• Windows explorer will display used and free space as 0 bytes and will not mention any filesystem format type
• Disk management will show it as a Raw partition. It can be checked at Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.
• The CHKDSK command will say the partition is RAW and the command is not available for Raw drives
Filesystem changes from NTFS to RAW:
A working NTFS formatted partition may change to a Raw partition and data becomes inaccessible due to many reasons. In such a case, if the partition is formatted, all data residing on the partition is lost. Let us see most common scenarios that lead to this situation.
1. Bad sector formation on the partition may cause the filesystem to turn into Raw partition. The partition remains inaccessible in this state.
2. A sudden power failure will lead to improper shutdown of the system and after turning it on again, may show a particular partition as not formatted. This will restrict access to the data residing on it.
3. Partition table corruption may also be a possible reason for this inaccessibility issue.
4. Damage to a hard drive while its improper removal from the system is also one of the reason why this happens.
5. A corruption caused in the file system itself due to many reasons will make certain partitions turn to Raw partitions.
6. Virus infection that causes disruptions in a partition table will make the partition to change from NTFS to Raw.
7. Hard disk drive cable failure will also cause a partition to go raw and may have damaged the file system.
Recovery from Raw to NTFS filesystem:
It becomes a nightmare if the NTFS partition on the hard drive storing important data turns to Raw format. This makes all data, which may include important financial data, inaccessible since the partition will not open at all. Here we will look at few manual methods that may help to recover from a Raw partition to NTFS partition without causing much data loss.
Follow The Steps to Complete the Process:
1. Right click the affected partition from Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.
2. Select the option to Change the Drive letter and path.
3. Enter a desired drive letter to easily distinguish it from other partitions.
If you try to open this partition from My Computer, it will show the message saying whether to format this partition. Select NO to preserve the data. Formatting it will lead to complete loss of data on the partition.
Next,
1. Go to Start > Run
2. Enter cmd This will open up the command prompt.
3. Enter chkdsk [Drive letter] :/f (option f will ensure that chkdsk function will try fix the errors on the disk.
If the command ran successfully, it will convert the Raw partition back to NTFS and make the data accessible. Immediately back up all your important data to secure it against such a failure again.
In case, the chkdsk function did not work, TestDisk, open source software is available to recover lost partitions. It is an efficient tool that can be used to recover data from affected NTFS partition that changed to Raw format.
Note: In case the change from NTFS filesystem to Raw partition happened, any attempt to write the data on the partition should be avoided. In addition, if user is unsure of using any method to recover the data from hard drive or partition, a professional help is advisable as repeated repair attempts may damage the partition completely.
Best practices:
In order to maintain the filesystem in healthy state and avoid situation of data inaccessibility following precautions should be taken. Here is the list of such best practices:
1. Keep an external power source (UPS) to avoid unexpected shutdown of the system which may lead to filesystem corruption.
2. Keep a periodic check on the cables that connect the storage to the system to replace them if any damage has occurred.
3. Always close the applications running on the system properly. An unexpected closure of some application may lead to damage to the partition.
4. Use reliable antivirus software to avoid damage caused by a virus attack on the system. A malware or a virus invading the system may cause considerable harm to the filesystem.
5. Do not abruptly remove or be aware of accidental removal of storage device while the system is powered on. This will risk the filesystem to get corrupted.
6. Take a timely backup of the data on an external storage to keep the data safe against unexpected loss due to failure of the filesystem.
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