How to Fix CHKDSK Is Not Available for RAW Drives Error [Updated]
“When I execute CHKDSK on my disk it displays a ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ error message. When I check my drive through “Disk Management” it shows a RAW status. But why such an error is appearing and how can I resolve it?”
___A Question from Reddit
But what is a RAW drive, why does it turn to this state, and how you can fix it without losing data? In this post, we’ll reply to all these queries along with a solid solution to fix a RAW drive in 4 stages!
Part 1: What Is a RAW Drive?
An unreadable storage device falls under the RAW drive category if it lacks a file system or has lost it. The drive becomes unreadable to Windows. macOS, or Linux operating system after its file system becomes erased or lost. Thus, the CHKDSK command execution on Windows produces a ‘the type of file system is RAW. CHKDSK not available’ error. Now to further explain why a glitch like this emerges, we’ll give you a real-world example:
A computer file system functions similarly to a library catalog system. The catalog on formatted drives (NTFS or FAT32) allows computers to locate files by performing functions similar to library catalogs that help find books. If an error occurs on it, CHKDSK (the librarian) can fix it by reorganizing and updating the catalog.
However, if the catalog is destroyed or missing, the drive becomes RAW. Without a catalog, CHKDSK can’t fix anything, resulting in the error. Thus, an appropriate ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ fix requires data recovery followed by drive reformatting to establish a new file system.
Part 2: Causes of ‘CHKDSK Is Not Available for RAW Drives’ Error
The malfunction like ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ on Windows 10/11 appears because of the following possible causes:
- Corrupted File System - File system corruption results from software problems or power disruptions and hardware ejection mistakes might turn your drive RAW.
- Unformatted Drive - A new hard drive or USB that hasn’t been formatted will appear as RAW.
- Interrupted Formatting - Power failure or interruption during formatting can leave the drive in a RAW state.
- Virus Attack - Malware can corrupt the file system, turning the drive RAW.
- Unsupported File System - When the file system of a drive does not match the Windows standard operating system (such as EXT4), this leads to its non-detection.
- Bad Sectors or Physical Damage - Hardware damage or bad sectors can turn a drive into an unreadable state.
- Partition Table Damage - A damaged Master Boot Record (MBR) or partition table will make the drive turn RAW.
Part 3: How to Fix CHKDSK Is Not Available for RAW Drives Error?
For a proper CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives fix without data loss you need to go through 4 stages. You must first recover data from your RAW drive, then format it to a compatible file system and examine its health lest it’s still RAW. Here are the instructions for each stage for a successful ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ fix:
Stage 1: Recover Data
If you were able to use your disk before it displayed a glitch like ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ on Windows 10/11 then you must have crucial data on it that you can no longer access now. Unless you use a data recovery tool to extract files they’ll be gone for good when you move to the next step that’s formatting the drive.
A simple file retrieval tool won’t work on a disk with ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ malfunction. But, only specialized software like 4DDiG Data Recovery can. The tool successfully restores files from RAW, formatted, corrupted, or unbootable drives providing consistently high file recovery. Here are some important characteristics of this tool for users to consider which include:
- This app can reclaim files lost due to RAW or missing partitions, virus attacks, etc.
- It can extract 2000+ file formats and offers a free preview for recovered files.
- It can regain data types like audio, videos, images, archives, RAW, documents, etc.
- The tool provides users with the ability to specify which file types they want to restore.
- This software facilitates recovery from numerous drive types including hard disks and SD cards, USBs, and so forth.
Check out the instructions beneath to use this tool to extract files from a disk with ‘the type of file system is RAW. CHKDSK not available’ error:
Step 1: Execute the data recovery tool on your computer. Then, pick the RAW disk. If it’s an external drive with a ‘Check Disk is not available for RAW drives’ connect it to the same computer where you installed the recovery tool. Then, pick it up on the app’s interface.
Step 2: Select the types of files you want to extract from the drive with an error. Hit “Scan Selected File Types.” Afterward, you can pause or stop the scan when you find the files you want.
Step 3: Hit “Recover” to export them to a secure place on your computer or cloud.
Stage 2: Format the Drive
After you’ve reclaimed your data from the disk with ‘the type of file system is RAW. CHKDSK not available’ error, it’s time to format it. You can use “Disk Management,” the Windows-embedded utility for this purpose. Here’s how:
Step 1: Right-click the “Start.” Then, pick “Disk Management.”
Step 2: Right-click the RAW disk. Then, choose “Format.”
Step 3: Next, adjust options like Volume label, File system e.g. NTFS, and Allocation unit size.
Step 4: A warning will appear stating that all data will be erased. Hit “OK.”
Stage 3: Evaluate the Drive’s Health
Make sure to check the disk health to fix ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ on Windows 10/11 when the disk remains RAW. You can verify the drive’s SMART status through the CrystalDiskInfo utility. Also, the drive might be failing physically based on the presence of clicking, grinding, or beeping noises during powering up. If that happens, stop using it to prevent further damage.
Part 4: CHKDSK Is Not Available for RAW Drives Error Is Usually Avoidable
After you’ve fixed the ‘Check Disk is not available for RAW drives’ glitch you can avoid it from appearing again in the future. You can also prevent data loss. Here are some preventative measures we’ve listed in detail:
- Eject Drives Safely - If you’re using an external drive, always remove it using the ejection feature to avoid corruption and physical damage.
- Back-Up Files - Regularly save crucial data to prevent loss if the drive fails.
- Use Stable Power - Prevent sudden shutdowns by using a power source or UPS.
- Check Drive Health - Use tools like CHKDSK and CrystalDiskInfo to detect issues early on in your disk.
- Protect from Viruses - Keep antivirus software updated to prevent system corruption.
- Let Formatting Finish - Avoid interrupting formatting or partitioning to prevent errors.
FAQs
Q1: What Is the CHKDSK Alternative for RAW Drives?
The CHKDSK alternative to fix a RAW drive is to format it to a compatible system. You can use Disk Management, File Explorer, Command Prompt, or a specialized disk formatting tool for this purpose.
Q2: How do I fix a RAW flash drive without formatting?
You can fix a RAW flash drive without formatting with the help of a tool like 4DDiG Partition Manager. It can repair RAW file systems, recover partitions, format drives, and migrate systems.
Conclusion
When your drive loses its file system to becomes unreadable, you might encounter this ‘CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives’ error. Corruption, power failures, malware or physical damage serve as causes of this problem. To fix the disk without losing data, first recover files, then format the drive and finally check its health. But, before you proceed with repairs, for recovery of files, consider 4DDiG Data Recovery. It’s a specialized tool designed to extract files from RAW, formatted, corrupted, or damaged drives and missing partitions with a high recovery rate.
