Check disk is not available for raw drives

If you've encountered the message "Check Disk is not available for RAW drives", you're likely trying to repair a corrupted or unreadable storage device—such as a hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card. This error means the drive's file system is no longer recognized by Windows, making it impossible for the built-in CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility to scan or repair it.

In this article, we'll explain what causes this issue, why CHKDSK doesn't work on RAW drives, and how you can recover your data or repair the drive.

🔍 What Is a RAW Drive?

A RAW drive refers to a storage device that has no recognizable file system (like NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT). This can happen due to:

File system corruption

Improper ejection or sudden shutdowns

Bad sectors on the drive

Malware or virus infections

Partition table damage

When a drive becomes RAW, Windows cannot access its contents—and trying to run CHKDSK will result in the message:

"The type of the file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives."

❌ Why CHKDSK Doesn’t Work on RAW Drives

CHKDSK is designed to check for and fix errors on drives with supported file systems (e.g., NTFS or FAT). Since RAW drives lack a readable file system, CHKDSK cannot scan or repair them.

Attempting to run CHKDSK on a RAW drive will only return the error message—no repair will occur, and further actions could make recovery harder.

🛠️ How to Fix a RAW Drive or Recover Data

Depending on your situation, you have two main options: recover the data or format the drive.

✅ Option 1: Recover Data from the RAW Drive (Recommended First)

Before formatting, try to recover important files using a third-party recovery tool:

Popular RAW data recovery tools:

Recuva

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Disk Drill

R-Studio

Steps:

Install the recovery software on a healthy drive (not the RAW one).

Launch the program and scan the RAW drive.

Preview and recover important files to a safe location.

🧹 Option 2: Format the RAW Drive (Data Will Be Erased)

Once you've recovered your data (or if you don't need it), you can format the drive to restore usability.

Format via File Explorer:

Open This PC or My Computer

Right-click the RAW drive > Format

Choose a file system (NTFS or exFAT)

Click Start

Format via Disk Management:

Press Win + X > Choose Disk Management

Right-click the RAW volume > Format

Assign a drive letter and select a file system

Confirm and apply

⚠️ Warning: Formatting erases all data. Make sure files are recovered first.

🧠 Pro Tips to Avoid RAW Drive Issues

Always eject USB drives safely

Keep antivirus software updated

Backup important data regularly

Avoid power interruptions while transferring files

✅ Final Thoughts

If your system says “Check Disk is not available for RAW drives,” it means CHKDSK can’t help—but all is not lost. With the right tools, you can recover your data and restore the drive’s functionality. Always attempt data recovery first before formatting, and take preventative measures to avoid RAW errors in the future.