When a hard drive, SSD, or USB flash drive shows up as RAW, it means the operating system can no longer recognize the file system structure. This usually triggers messages like “The volume does not contain a recognized file system” or “You need to format the disk before you can use it.” In this situation, many people make two serious mistakes: running chkdsk or accepting the automatic format. Both actions can cause even more damage to the data. That’s why safe data recovery always starts by avoiding any operation that writes to the drive.
The chkdsk command, while useful for fixing minor errors on healthy NTFS or FAT volumes, is not designed to repair a drive that is already in RAW state. When run on a disk without a valid file system, it attempts to rebuild non-existent structures and can overwrite critical metadata. This can permanently destroy files that were still recoverable. Even Microsoft recommends against using chkdsk on RAW volumes because it causes irreversible changes.
Automatic formatting is even more dangerous. Although Windows offers to “format the disk so you can use it,” doing so completely replaces the file system. New tables, new metadata, and a new file index are created, which can overwrite critical information that still physically exists on the drive. Even a “quick format” drastically reduces recovery chances, and a full format can make recovery impossible without a professional data recovery lab.
The correct way to proceed when a drive appears as RAW is to completely avoid any write operations. Do not open files from it, do not run antivirus scans, and do not attempt automatic repairs. The next safe step is to create a bit-for-bit clone using tools specifically designed to handle problematic sectors, such as ddrescue. This allows all subsequent work to be done on the copy instead of the original drive, minimizing the risk of permanent data loss. The clone also enables the use of professional deep-analysis software without touching the damaged unit.
Once a stable image is obtained, recovery software can detect partition signatures, rebuild GPT or MFT tables, and recover complete files even when metadata is partially destroyed. Programs such as R-Studio, DMDE, or UFS Explorer are specifically built for these scenarios. They can read the raw internal structure of the drive, identify fragments, and reconstruct directory trees far more accurately than any automatic repair tool ever could.
Finally, to prevent the problem from happening again, it’s essential to analyze the physical health of the device: bad sectors, electronic failures, disconnections, high temperatures, or NAND memory wear. When a drive suddenly becomes RAW, it’s usually a warning that its lifespan is severely compromised. Therefore, the best long-term strategy is to recover the files, replace the drive, and implement a proper backup system. Prevention and the right response are what guarantee safe and successful recovery.
