How to Resolve 'Disk Displaying as Raw Instead of NTFS' [2 Solutions]

While setting up your hard drive and partitions, did you encounter an error message, and the disk now appears as RAW instead of NTFS? So, what does it mean when a disk is labeled RAW, and how can you fix this issue?

If your disk is displayed as "RAW" rather than "NTFS" on your computer, it indicates that your computer is unable to read the hard drive.

In this article, we will reveal the reasons behind it, guide you on how to resolve the issue, and share plenty of additional insights! Keep reading for a comprehensive understanding.

Why Does My Disk Appear as RAW Instead of NTFS?

Alright, if you didn't format the drive correctly, it will appear as "RAW" instead of "NTFS" because the drive has become unreadable, like the issue of the C Drive being RAW. In layman's terms, the drive has become corrupted, and Windows is unable to access any files. Hence, it labels the drive as "RAW" rather than "NTFS" or any other file system type.

Although this can occur if the drive is not formatted correctly, it can also result from:

• Bad sector
• Corrupted partitions
• Structural damage to the file system
• When your PC doesn't shut down properly
• PC shuts down abruptly due to power failure

But, thankfully, you can fix this! Our next section shows you how you can prevent your drive from showing up as RAW. Keep reading to fix your broken drive!

Resolve "Disk Displaying as Raw Instead of NTFS" with Partition Master Tools

tools Partition Master Free is a "disk doctor." With this tool, you can easily fix your drive to display as RAW instead of NTFS or any other file system.

You can create, delete, merge, expand, format, or erase partitions, and perform many other operations. Additionally, you can clone system partitions, convert from MBR to GPT without data loss, check for file system errors, and undertake various other tasks.

Everything can be done with just a few clicks, and you can also fix your disk so it shows as RAW with just a few clicks.

Download Partition Master today and see how it assists you in fixing a corrupted drive or managing your disk partitions, along with numerous other requirements.

Here are some additional features of the tool Partition Master:

• Rebuild MBR
• Adjust the cluster size
• Convert NTFS to FAT32
• Convert FAT32 to NTFS
• Copy OS to another drive
• Change the active partition
• Convert MBR to GPT without losing data

Follow the steps below to help you operate more efficiently:

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, select 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 located in the bottom right corner to review all the alterations, and then click "Apply" to commence the formatting process of your RAW partition, USB, SD card, or external hard drive.

Fix "Disk Showing as Raw Instead of NTFS" via Command Prompt

Alternatively, you can also resolve the issue of "disk showing as raw instead of NTFS" using the Command Prompt. Here's how to proceed: 1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" to open an elevated command prompt. 2. In the command prompt, type the following command to check the disk for errors and repair them: ``` chkdsk /f /r /x [drive_letter:] ``` Replace `[drive_letter:]` with the actual drive letter of the affected disk (e.g., `C:`). 3. Press Enter to execute the command. The process may take some time, depending on the size of the disk. 4. Once the process is complete, restart your computer. 5. After the restart, the disk should be recognized as NTFS instead of RAW. If the issue persists, you might need to format the disk to NTFS, but please note that formatting will erase all data on the disk. Make sure to back up any important files before proceeding with the format.

Step 1. Click on the "Start" button and then type "cmd."

Step 2. Click on "Run as administrator" now.

Step 3. In the command prompt, type "diskpart" and press "Enter."

Step 4. Next, enter the following commands and press "Enter."

1. list disk
2. select disk n (replace "n" with the corresponding corrupted hard drive number)

1. attributes disk clear readonly
2. clean
3. create partition primary
4. select part 1
5. active (if the drive is the boot drive)
6. format fs=ntfs quick (give a name to the drive)
7. Assign

Now, the drive will switch from RAW to NTFS, and it will start functioning again. However, you need to exercise caution to avoid data loss when using diskpart commands.

Conclusion

The most common reason for a disk to appear as RAW is when the drive becomes corrupted. When the drive is displayed as RAW, you are unable to access your files or perform any actions.

But, luckily, you can convert the drive back to NTFS or FAT32 – whichever file system you prefer.

To make this even easier, you can use tools like Partition Master to convert your drive from RAW to NTFS/FAT32.

Frequently Asked Questions About Disks Appearing as "Raw" Instead of "NTFS"

We've talked about fixing a disk that appears as "raw" rather than "NTFS." Here are some questions we believe you might be seeking answers to. Keep reading.

1. How do I convert a RAW hard drive to NTFS using Diskpart?

If your hard drive is displaying as RAW and you wish to convert it to NTFS using Diskpart, follow the solutions provided above to accomplish this.

2. Can chkdsk fix a RAW drive? Yes, chkdsk (Check Disk) is a built-in utility in Windows that can help fix certain issues with a RAW drive. When a drive becomes RAW, it means the file system is not recognized or has become corrupted. Chkdsk can scan the drive for errors, bad sectors, and other issues, and attempt to repair them. However, it's important to note that chkdsk might not always be able to recover all data from a RAW drive, especially if the corruption is severe. It's recommended to back up any important files before running chkdsk.

No, CHDSK is unable to repair a drive that appears as RAW. However, you can utilize an easy and powerful tool, Partition Master, to fix the RAW drive issue.

3. Why is my drive appearing as RAW?

If your drive is displaying as RAW, it might be because the drive wasn't formatted and no file system has been assigned to it.

It could also display as RAW if your PC experiences an unexpected shutdown, causing the drive to crash. In essence, if your drive becomes corrupted or wasn't properly formatted, it might be recognized as RAW.