What exactly is RAW drive format?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jay
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J

Jay

I shall be glad to know what exactly a RAW hard drive format is. One hard
drive that crashed recently after a power supply failure shows that its file
system is now RAW and cannot be read. But a program "Restoration2000" was
able to read almost every file present on the drive but not recover because
the software is a "demo" version.

Can one convert this drive back to NTFS (using the 'convert' command-line
option) and access it again?

The drive is headed for a data recovery lab anyway to try and retrieve some
files that were not backed up as yet. I would prefer to spend some money and
do it under professional care than do a DIY job. Somebody did suggest using
"HDD Regenerator" to try a fool-proof DIY solution but I am not sure I
should.

This question is for my knowledge only as I am somewhat confused. The
recovery software read the files while this 250GB drive was connected
temporarily through USB2.0 in under an hour of "intensive search". I am
amazed that all the data is still there!

Regards and thanks for any input.

Jay
 
At this time, do nothing with the drive or you may lose information.

The drive has lost it's partition structure or it's partition "type".

This happens occasionally. To my knowledge no one has ever figured out "why"
it happens!

The fix is not for the faint of heart and there is one thing that you
absolutely need to know before you begin. What TYPE of FILE SYSTEM was being
used on the hard drive? If you are 100% certain that you know there is (may
be) a way to recover.

There is a little DOS program included with Partition Magic 8.01. It is
called ptedit. This program can only be used from within "pure DOS". When
you use Partition Magic 8.01 to create the 2 disk floppy set (the DOS
version of Partition Magic) this little program is placed in the set.

You have to boot the computer from disk 1 of the floppy set. Then insert
disk 2 when asked to. After you are in Partition Magic, EXIT from the
program. You will be back at the A: prompt. Re-insert floppy disk 1.

Now, type in ptedit and press enter. The program will start. This program
allows you to change the drive "type". It is imperative that you are certain
that you are working on the correct drive. You can choose drives at the top
of the program window. Once you have chosen the correct drive, click in the
**Line 1 | Type** box.

This will energize the "Set_Type" box at the bottom. Now click the mouse on
the "Set_Type" BOX. Look for the file system that you KNOW was being used.
There are many choices. Choose the correct file system and follow the
instructions from there.

NOTE: If you choose the wrong file system, and commit the change, you "may"
corrupt any information that is on the drive. If this happens you may as
well format the drive and start over in a clean state.

I have successfully recovered about a dozen drives that have gone RAW, or
otherwise lost their partition structure, by using this great little DOS
program.

NOTE: The program CAN NOT be used from within Windows.

And "shame" on the computer manufacturers who deliver new computers without
a floppy drive installed!


There is also a Windows version of ptedit called ptedit32. The usage is the
same. Search Google to find a source for this utility.


--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Thanks very much for the info.

I have ultimately decided that a professional would be the best way to go
for now!

Regards.

Jay
 
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