What is CHKDSK, and what does it do?

CHKDSK is a command-line utility built into Windows operating systems. It is used to check and repair file system errors on storage drives, such as hard drives or solid-state drives. When run, CHKDSK examines the integrity of the file system, scans for bad sectors, and attempts to fix any issues it finds.

Why am I getting the "CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives" error message?

The error message indicates that the CHKDSK utility cannot be executed on a drive with a RAW file system. This typically happens when the file system on the drive is damaged, corrupt, or not recognized by the operating system. It may also occur if the drive has not been formatted or initialized correctly.

Will formatting the RAW drive fix the error?

Formatting the RAW drive will often resolve the "CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives" error. However, it is crucial to note that formatting erases all data on the drive. Before formatting, make sure to back up any important files if possible. After formatting, you should be able to use the drive with a recognized file system, and CHKDSK should be able to work on it.

Are there any data recovery options for a RAW drive?

Yes, there are data recovery options for RAW drives. You can use specialized data recovery software designed to recover files from RAW or inaccessible drives. These programs can scan the drive for recoverable data and help retrieve files even if the file system is damaged. However, it is important to note that not all data may be recoverable, and professional data recovery services may be necessary for more complex cases.

Troubleshooting Guide: "The Type of the File System Is RAW,CHKDSK is not Available for RAW Drives

Simon Marcus

2023-06-06 14:11:41

44921 views, 3 min read

Hi, there! I'm facing with a very tricky problem. My USB became RAW this morning, when I tried to fix it with chkdsk command, it told me "The type of the files system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives". How can I bypass this error? Any help would be much appreciated!

CHKDSK is not available for raw drives can be a ordinary questions for many people. Sometimes hard drives or other storage mediums become inaccessible and show raw file system type. The solution requires you to format the drive or fix errors via chkdsk command of Windows. The problem is, chkdsk command does not work for RAW drives. So, you need some other ways to fix the issue, and you can find them in this article.

chkdsk-not-availble-for-raw-drive

Top 2 Solutions for "CHKDSK is not available for raw drives"

1. Fix "CHKDSK is not available for raw drives" without Losing Data
2. Fix Using CMD

Before fixing "CHKDSK is not available for raw drives", let's know what's the meaning of it.

What Does "CHKDSK is not available for raw drives" Mean?

Windows can read and access certain file systems such as FAT, FAT32, NTFS, etc. But when there is no file system (its RAW), Windows simply cannot read it. So, when you use the chkdsk command to check the drive for errors, it simply cannot read it and gives the above-mentioned error. This problem may occur on internal hard drive, external hard drive, and even on SSD. A drive can become RAW due to bad sectors, corrupted file system, or some other reason.

There are two methods of fixing this issue. They are described below:

Method 1. Fix "CHKDSK is not available for raw drives" without Losing Data

As you have tried the first method and failed, this issue can not be solved without formatting the drive. However, you can restore the inaccessible data from the drive to ensure the data security and then format it to the readable file system.

Part 1. Recover Data from RAW Drive with AnyRecover

When it comes to recovering data from RAW drives, there is no better tool to get the job done than iMyFone AnyRecover. Thanks to its advanced technology, AnyRecover can recover data from a corrupted memory card, RAW drive, damaged external hard drive and many other devices with a extremely high success rate.

anyrecover review for CHKDSK is not available for raw drives

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Instructions to Recover Data from RAW Drive

Step 1. After installing AnyRecover, run it and select a disk under the “I can't find my partitions” tab.

select location partition

Step 2. Find and select the partition that has raw file system system. Click “Scan”.

Step 3. The program will start data scanning process on your selected partition.

Step 4. A list of lost files will be there. What you need do is to recover your wanted files by clicking "Recover" button from your RAW partition.

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Part 2. Format the Raw Drive

Now that you have successfully recovered your inaccessible files via AnyRecover, the next step will be formatting your RAW drive to make it readable/accessible again. The process to do this is straightforward.

1. On your computer, open This PC.
2. Navigate to the RAW drive, right-click on it and select the Format option.
3. Next choose one of the file systems (NTFS is common for most users), and then check the "Quick Format" option.
4. Once everything is configured, start the formatting process, it will take several minutes.

raw-to-ntfs

Method 2. Fix Using CMD

This method is useful if you want to make your RAW drive readable again without formatting. You will need to use CMD for this. It will convert the raw file system of the drive to NTFS which Windows can read and access.

Launch Command Prompt on your Windows PC via Start Menu or Run program. Make sure to run it as administrator.
Once CMD window is opened, type Diskpart and press Enter.
Next, type G: /FS :NTFS (G here is the drive letter of your RAW drive) and press Enter to execute. Once you hit enter, Windows will start the conversion process and your RAW drive will be converted to NTFS.

change-to-ntfs-cmd

If the steps above fail to save your RAW drive, then you can try another CMD, whereas it requires to format your drive. Enter the command below one by one to do it.

Diskpart > list disk > select disk #(replace "#" to the identifier of your hard disk) > clean > create partition primary > format fs=ntfs

This method is suitable for those people who store no important data on the drive. If you have many vital information, you'd better go to the first method.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the " CHKDSK is not available for raw drives " error can be a frustrating and challenging issue to deal with. To make sure your data is protected, it is adviced to recover your inaccessible data from the RAW drive via iMyFone AnyRecover before attempting to format it or using any other method to make the drive accessible again.

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