How to Resolve "Convert is Not Available for Raw Drives" [2 Effective Solutions]

If you recently attempted to convert your drive's file system using the command prompt, and encountered an error message stating that "convert is not available for raw drives," this is because the "convert" command is only applicable when transitioning from the FAT32 file system to NTFS.

This article will present specific methods to assist you in resolving the issue of how to fix this error and successfully convert your drive's file system. Keep reading to gain more knowledge!

What Does "Convert Is Not Available for Raw Drives" Mean?

The "convert" command is reserved exclusively for converting the file system from FAT32 to NTFS. If a user attempts to utilize this command to switch the file system to a different one, they will encounter the error message "convert is not available for raw drives."

You might also encounter this error if the drive is already recognized as "raw" by Windows. When a drive becomes raw, it becomes inaccessible, and Windows is unable to read from or write to it. In such a case, you need to access "Disk Management" and format it back to FAT32 before attempting the "Convert" command.

Regardless of the cause, if you encounter this error, we know how to resolve it. Proceed to the next section to learn how to rectify the issue.

How to Resolve the "Convert is Not Available for Raw Drives" Error

Before proceeding with the fix to prevent the drive from displaying the error, we strongly recommend creating a backup of your drive. There is a risk that you might lose your files, so it's crucial to back up important files on your computer.

Now, let me demonstrate how to correct the error. There are actually two methods you can employ. I'll show you both of them:

Guide 1: Resolving the "Convert is Not Available for Raw Drives" Error with Partition Master Tool

If you're attempting to convert the file system type from FAT32 to another file system, or if your drive is formatted as exFAT or NTFS and you wish to alter it to a different file system, you can utilize the tools Partition Master Free tool. It allows you to change the file system type with just a few clicks without encountering any errors.

In fact, if the drive is already raw, you can use tools like Partition Master to convert it to a functional file system such as NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT.

So, if you encounter the error "convert is not available for raw drives," don't panic. Simply download Partition Master today and effortlessly convert the file system types of your drives with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Right-click on the RAW partition or RAW external hard drive/USB/SD card that needs formatting and select "Format."

Step 2. Format the RAW partition and reset the file system.

Assign a new partition label, choose the file system as NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT, and set the cluster size for the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. In the Warning window, click "Yes" to continue.

Click "Yes" to allow the program to format the target RAW partition to the file system format you selected on your drive.

Step 4. Execute the operations.

Click the “Execute 1 Task(s)” button in the bottom right corner to review all the changes, then click “Apply” to begin formatting your RAW partition/USB/SD/external hard drive.

Partition Master can also perform the following tasks:

• Convert MBR to GPT
• Create, delete, expand, or merge partitions
• Change cluster size, such as exFAT allocation unit size
• Copy the operating system and data to another external drive

Guide 2: Resolving the "Convert is Not Available for Raw Drives" Error - Using Diskpart Commands

Alternatively, you can rectify the issue using the Diskpart commands in the Command Prompt. Although this is a viable method, it may occasionally fail, unlike the reliability of tools like Partition Master.

But we'll still guide you on how to fix the error using diskpart. Here's how:

Step 1. Click on the "Start" button and then search for "Command Prompt."

Step 2. Right-click on it and select "Run as administrator" to open it with administrative privileges.

Step 3. Type the command "diskpart" and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.

Step 4. Now, type "list disk" and press the "Enter" key to execute the command. After that, type and enter the following commands:

Translate into English:
• select disk 2 (The 2 refers to the raw drive number.)
• list volume
• select volume 10 (The 10 represents the partition number of the raw drive.)

Step 5. Lastly, type and press Enter for "format fs=ntfs quick".

Step 6. Now, close the Command Prompt by clicking on the "X" button, or type "exit" in the command prompt and then press the "Enter" button.

Conclusion

If you encounter the error "convert is not available for raw drives," don't worry. Simply download the tool Partition Master to effortlessly convert your drive's file system with just a few clicks. Attempting the same process using the command prompt may yield unpredictable results, but with Partition Master, you can enjoy a 100% success rate and an array of additional features tailored to all your disk partition requirements.

"Conversion Not Available for Raw Drives" FAQs

If you have more questions about why "convert" is not available for raw drives, we've addressed some of them here. Give it a look!

1. How can I fix the issue of CHKDSK not being available for raw drives?

CHKDSK is not available for raw drives? Here's how to fix that:

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click on the raw USB or SD card and select "Properties." 2. Click on the "Tools" tab, and then under "Error checking," click on "Check." 3. Next, click "Scan drive" to scan for errors on the disk and resolve the "CHKDSK not available for raw drives" issue.

**2. How can I convert a raw hard drive to NTFS without losing data?**

Here's how you can convert your raw hard drive to NTFS: 1. Connect the hard drive to your computer: Ensure that the raw hard drive is properly connected to your computer, either through an internal connection or an external USB enclosure. 2. Open Command Prompt: Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu. You'll need administrative privileges to perform this conversion. 3. Check the current file system: In the Command Prompt, type `diskpart` and press Enter. This will launch the Disk Management utility. Next, type `list disk` and press Enter. Identify the number of the disk you want to convert to NTFS (usually Disk 0, Disk 1, etc.). 4. Select the target disk: Type `select disk [disk number]`, replacing `[disk number]` with the number of the disk you identified in the previous step, and press Enter. 5. Clean the disk: Before converting to NTFS, you need to clean the disk. Type `clean` and press Enter. This command will erase all data on the disk, so make sure you have a backup if needed. 6. Create a new NTFS partition: Type `create partition primary` and press Enter. Then, type `format fs=ntfs quick` and press Enter. The `quick` option speeds up the formatting process. 7. Assign a drive letter: Type `assign [drive letter]:`, replacing `[drive letter]` with the letter you want to assign to the drive (e.g., C:, D:, etc.), and press Enter. 8. Exit DiskPart and Command Prompt: Type `exit` twice and press Enter to close both utilities. After completing these steps, your raw hard drive should be formatted and converted to the NTFS file system. Remember that all existing data will be lost during the process, so ensure you have backups before proceeding.

1. Open "Disk Management" by searching for it in your computer's search function. 2. Right-click on the unformatted hard drive and choose "Format." 3. Expand the "File system" dropdown menu, and select "NTFS." 4. Check the box for "Perform quick format," then click "OK" to start the formatting process.

3. Why is my hard drive showing as RAW?

Your hard drive may appear as "raw" if it's not formatted with a recognizable file system, if it's infected with a virus or malware, or if it's become corrupted.