Is your partition showing as unformatted in Windows? This page shows you how to recover it with the best partition recovery software – including two solutions.
A partition may become inaccessible or appear as RAW when Windows cannot recognize its file system. This does not necessarily mean that all the files have disappeared. Several problems can cause this situation:
When a partition becomes inaccessible, dedicated recovery software may help locate a lost partition or retrieve files that Windows cannot open. AOMEI FastRecovery is one option for Windows users who need to recover files or attempt to restore a lost or deleted partition.
Before you start, please download and install AOMEI FastRecovery on a different drive from the one containing the affected partition. Then choose one way offered below to recover the unformatted partition.
If you want to recover the partition structure along with data on it, follow these steps:
Step 1. Launch AOMEI FastRecovery, select Disk Data Recovery, and click Start Partition Recovery.
Step 2. Identify the disk that contained the lost partition. Check its disk number, capacity, model, and partition layout to make sure you select the correct disk. Click Next.
Step 3. Choose a search method and click Next to begin scanning. Start with Fast Search to quickly locate deleted or lost partitions.
Step 4. After the scan finishes, review the detected partitions and their details. Select the partition you want to recover and click Proceed.
💡 Note: If the expected partition is not listed, go back and try Full Search for a more thorough scan.
Step 5. Wait for the recovery process to finish. Open File Explorer and check whether the partition is accessible. If it does not appear, open Disk Management to check its status and determine whether assigning a drive letter is appropriate.
If you only want to recover files from unformatted hard drive, follow these instructions:
Step 1. Launch AOMEI FastRecovery and select Partition Lost Recovery.
Step 2. Locate the unformatted partition from the list and click Scan. AOMEI FastRecovery will perform a deep scan to look for recoverable files, which takes a relatively long time.
Step 3. Browse the results by Type or Path. Use the search, filter, or sorting options to locate files by name, extension, or other available criteria.
Step 4. Select the files you want to recover. Then click Recover and choose a destination on a different healthy drive.
💡Notes:
Step 5. Once the process finishes, open the recovered files to verify that they are accessible.
If you no longer need the original files or have already recovered and verified them, you can use Disk Management to reformat the RAW partition.
❗ Warning: Formatting can overwrite file system information and make data recovery more difficult. Confirm that you have selected the correct disk and no longer need its original data before proceeding.
Step 1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
Step 2. Locate the unformatted partition, right-click it and select Format.
Step 3. Set the following:
Step 4. Click OK and confirm the operation when prompted. Wait for formatting to finish, then check whether the volume appears in File Explorer.
1. Can CHKDSK repair an unformatted partition?
CHKDSK generally cannot perform a normal file system repair when Windows identifies the partition as RAW. If the partition contains important files, recover the data before attempting repairs or formatting. If Windows recognizes a supported file system, CHKDSK may be appropriate for checking certain file system errors.
2. Can I recover files from a RAW partition without formatting it?
Yes, in some cases. Recovery software may be able to scan the RAW partition for recoverable files without requiring you to format it first. Save recovered files to a different physical drive and avoid writing new data to the affected partition.
3. Why does Windows ask me to format a partition before I can use it?
Windows may display this message when it cannot recognize the partition's file system or when file system information is damaged. The message does not necessarily mean that the partition contains no data. If you need the files, cancel the formatting prompt and attempt data recovery first.
AOMEI FastRecovery offers different solutions for recovering an unformatted partition on Windows – recover the entire partition or only lost files. Pick one way that best fits your needs.
If you no longer need the original data or have already recovered it, Disk Management can format a RAW volume to make it usable again. Keeping regular backups will also help protect your data if partition problems occur again.