NTFS
NTFS Drive Became RAW
Scan the RAW volume before formatting or running chkdsk.
Written by the Refindo Recovery Team · Published · Updated
When an NTFS volume turns RAW, Windows can no longer read its file system, so Disk Management drops the "NTFS" label and shows RAW instead. It is not a wipe — the data region is usually intact, and RAW simply means the boot sector or Master File Table that describes the volume is damaged. It typically follows an unsafe removal, a power cut during a write, or bad sectors landing in the file-system structures. The drive is usually still scannable.
Do not format or run chkdsk
RAW is a damaged label, not erased data. Leave the volume alone and scan it before you format or run chkdsk, because both rewrite the structures a scan would use to rebuild your files.
- Do not format the RAW volume to make it usable again.
- Do not run chkdsk on a RAW drive — it can refuse or rewrite structures.
- Do not convert or repartition the drive before recovery.
- Recover to a separate disk, not back onto the RAW NTFS drive.
Why an NTFS volume turns RAW
- A damaged NTFS boot sector or Master File Table after an unsafe removal.
- A power loss or interrupted write during a file operation.
- Bad sectors landing in the volume metadata at the start of the partition.
- Cross-platform use or a failed repair leaving the file system inconsistent.
How to scan a RAW NTFS drive
Refindo can scan a RAW NTFS volume that Windows still detects and preview recoverable files before any repair. It reads the volume without writing changes back to the source.
- Confirm the drive shows as RAW with the correct capacity in Disk Management.
- Reconnect it directly with a known-good cable to rule out connection errors.
- Open Refindo and select the RAW volume without formatting or converting it.
- Run Quick Scan, then Deep Scan to rebuild files from NTFS records or signatures, and recover elsewhere.
When RAW points to hardware
- The drive disconnects during the scan or reports the wrong capacity.
- The RAW drive holds the only copy of irreplaceable data.
- A previous format or chkdsk has already changed the volume.
- The drive shows bad-sector errors or is physically unstable.
The NTFS boot sector and Master File Table
What RAW means on an NTFS volume
RAW is not a file system; it is the label Windows uses when it cannot identify a valid one. For a former NTFS volume that usually means the boot sector or the Master File Table is damaged enough that the driver cannot mount it. The file data and most directory records still exist further into the volume, which is why signature- and MFT-based scanning can often rebuild the contents even though Windows shows nothing.
The Master File Table and its backup
NTFS stores a record for every file in the Master File Table (MFT) and keeps a partial backup (the MFT mirror) elsewhere on the volume. When the primary MFT is damaged, recovery tools can sometimes use the mirror or scan for individual file records to reconstruct names, sizes, and locations. This is why NTFS recovery often preserves folder structure better than file systems without a comparable index.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RAW mean my NTFS drive is erased?
No. RAW means Windows cannot read the file system, not that the data is gone. The files usually remain and can be scanned.
Should I run chkdsk on a RAW drive?
No. chkdsk often reports "CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives," and when it does run it can rewrite metadata. Scan and recover first.
Will formatting fix a RAW NTFS drive?
Formatting makes the drive usable again but discards your data. Recover the files first, then format only if you still need the drive.
Can folder names be recovered from a RAW NTFS volume?
Often, yes. NTFS keeps file records in the Master File Table, and if enough of it survives, a scan can rebuild original names and folders.
Why did my NTFS drive suddenly turn RAW?
Common causes are unplugging during a write, a power loss, or bad sectors in the file-system structures. Any can leave the boot sector or MFT unreadable.
Scan before you repair
Run a read-only scan first, preview what is recoverable, then save selected files to a different drive.