One of the most frustrating situations for any computer user is connecting an external hard drive only to discover that Windows reports it as a RAW drive instead of NTFS. The drive may ask you to format the disk before using it, even though all your important files are still physically stored on it.

Fortunately, if the drive is not suffering from severe hardware failure, DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) is one of the most powerful tools available for recovering lost NTFS partitions and restoring access to your files.

This comprehensive guide explains what causes a RAW drive, how DMDE Full Scan works, how to recover an NTFS partition safely, and when to recover files instead of repairing the partition.

What is a RAW Drive?

A RAW drive is a storage device whose file system can no longer be recognized by Windows.

Instead of showing:

NTFS

Windows displays:

RAW

Common symptoms include:

• "You need to format the disk before you can use it."
• Drive letter exists but won't open.
• Access Denied errors.
• File Explorer freezes.
• Disk Management shows RAW.
• CHKDSK refuses to run.
• Partition appears missing.

The actual files usually remain on the disk until overwritten.

Why Does an NTFS Partition Become RAW?

Several situations can corrupt the partition metadata.

Common causes include:

• Unsafe USB removal
• Sudden power failure
• Loose USB cable
• USB controller interruption
• Bad sectors
• Corrupted NTFS boot sector
• Damaged Master File Table (MFT)
• Corrupted partition table
• Virus or malware
• Interrupted file copy
• External enclosure failure
• Firmware problems

What is DMDE?

DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) is a professional-level disk recovery utility capable of:

• Finding lost partitions
• Recovering deleted partitions
• Repairing partition entries
• Recovering individual files
• Editing partition tables
• Reading damaged drives sector-by-sector
• Recovering NTFS, FAT, exFAT, Ext partitions

Unlike many consumer recovery programs, DMDE can restore the original partition without copying every file.

Before You Start

Follow these precautions carefully.

Do NOT

• Format the drive
• Run CHKDSK
• Initialize the disk
• Copy new files to the drive
• Install recovery software onto the affected drive

Recommended

• Use a stable USB cable
• Connect directly to motherboard USB ports
• Disable sleep mode
• Ensure uninterrupted power
• If possible, create a sector-by-sector image first

Download DMDE

Download the latest version from the official website.

The portable version is recommended because it does not require installation.

Step 1: Connect the RAW Drive

Connect the external drive.

Launch DMDE.

Wait until all disks are detected.

You will see:

• Physical disks
• Logical volumes
• USB drives

Always choose the Physical Disk, not the RAW partition.

Example:

Physical Drive 2
Seagate 2TB

instead of

Volume H:
RAW

Step 2: Open the Physical Disk

Double-click the physical drive.

DMDE displays:

• Existing partitions
• Partition table
• Unallocated space
• Boot sectors

If Windows sees RAW, DMDE may still detect hidden NTFS structures.

Step 3: Run Full Scan

Click:

Full Scan

This is the most important step.

DMDE begins searching the entire disk for:

• NTFS boot sectors
• FAT structures
• exFAT partitions
• Lost partitions
• Backup boot sectors
• MFT records

Scan Options

Normally leave defaults enabled.

Recommended:

✔ NTFS

✔ Search Entire Disk

✔ Existing + Lost Partitions

Avoid limiting the scan unless you know the exact partition location.

How Long Does Full Scan Take?

Approximate times:

500 GB

30–90 minutes

1 TB

1–3 hours

2 TB

2–6 hours

4 TB

4–12 hours

Bad sectors can significantly increase scan time.

Step 4: Wait Patiently

Do not interrupt the scan.

Even if progress appears slow, DMDE may still be reading difficult sectors.

Stopping early may miss the correct NTFS partition.

Step 5: Review Scan Results

After completion, DMDE lists all discovered partitions.

You may see:

NTFS

NTFS Found

NTFS (Lost)

RAW

Unknown

There may be multiple NTFS entries.

Step 6: Identify the Correct NTFS Partition

Open each discovered partition.

Look for:

• Original folder names
• Documents
• Pictures
• Videos
• Desktop folder
• Users folder

If the file structure looks correct, you've found the right partition.

Step 7: Verify the Partition

Check:

• Folder hierarchy
• File names
• File sizes
• Recent files
• Root directory

Avoid restoring a partition until you're confident it matches your original drive.

Step 8: Restore the Partition

If the partition is correct:

Select:

Insert

or

Restore

(depending on DMDE version)

DMDE writes the recovered partition entry into the partition table.

This process usually takes only a few seconds.

Step 9: Reconnect the Drive

Safely disconnect the drive.

Reconnect it.

If successful:

Windows should detect:

NTFS

instead of RAW.

Your folders should become accessible.

If Windows Still Shows RAW

Possible causes:

• Damaged NTFS boot sector
• Corrupted MFT
• Severe filesystem corruption
• Bad sectors
• Hardware issues

In this case, perform file recovery instead of partition restoration.

Recover Files Instead

DMDE allows copying files to another drive.

Recover:

• Documents
• Photos
• Videos
• Office files
• Archives
• Databases

Never recover files back onto the same damaged disk.

What If There Are Multiple NTFS Partitions?

Sometimes Full Scan finds several NTFS partitions.

Choose the one that:

• Matches original size
• Shows correct folders
• Has latest files
• Opens normally

Ignore duplicate or incomplete entries.

Common DMDE Scan Results

NTFS Found

Excellent.

Usually recoverable.

NTFS Lost

Lost partition.

Often recoverable.

RAW

Filesystem damaged.

File recovery recommended.

Unknown

No recognizable filesystem.

May indicate severe corruption.

DMDE Free vs Paid

Free Version

• View partitions
• Browse files
• Recover limited files per operation
• Scan entire disk

Paid Version

• Unlimited recovery
• Advanced partition restoration
• Additional editing features

DMDE vs TestDisk

Signs the Recovery Will Likely Succeed

Recovery chances are excellent if:

• Drive spins normally.
• Capacity is detected correctly.
• SMART health is acceptable.
• Scan completes successfully.
• Original folders appear.
• No clicking sounds.
• Few or no bad sectors.

Signs of Hardware Failure

Recovery software may not help if:

• Clicking sounds
• Drive disconnects repeatedly
• Capacity shows 0 bytes
• Drive disappears randomly
• Very slow scanning
• Numerous read errors
• USB disconnects during scan

Clone the drive before continuing.

Best Practices

• Always recover important files first.
• Keep backups of recovered data.
• Replace unstable USB cables.
• Avoid using CHKDSK on RAW drives.
• Never format before recovery.
• Disconnect safely after every use.
• Monitor SMART health regularly.
• Replace failing drives promptly.

Conclusion

DMDE is one of the most effective utilities for recovering NTFS partitions from RAW external hard drives. In many cases, a Full Scan can locate the original partition, allowing you to restore it without formatting or losing your files. However, if the drive has extensive bad sectors or physical damage, prioritize cloning the disk and recovering your data before attempting repairs.

With patience and the correct recovery process, many RAW drives can be restored successfully, saving both valuable data and the cost of professional recovery services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can DMDE recover a RAW NTFS partition without formatting?

Yes. DMDE can often locate the lost NTFS partition and restore it without formatting the drive.

2. Is DMDE safe to use?

Yes. Scanning is read-only. Changes are only made if you choose to restore a partition or edit disk structures.

3. Should I run CHKDSK on a RAW drive?

No. CHKDSK cannot repair RAW drives and may worsen logical corruption.

4. How long does a Full Scan take?

Depending on the drive size and condition, it can range from 30 minutes to over 12 hours.

5. Why does DMDE find multiple NTFS partitions?

The disk may contain old partition information or multiple recoverable partition records. Verify folders before restoring.

6. Can I recover files without restoring the partition?

Yes. DMDE allows you to copy files to another storage device even if the partition cannot be restored.

7. What if the scan freezes?

This usually indicates unreadable sectors or hardware issues. Let it continue if possible, or consider cloning the drive first.

8. Can DMDE recover deleted partitions?

Yes. Deleted NTFS partitions are one of DMDE's strongest recovery capabilities.

9. Does the free version recover files?

Yes, but it has limitations on file recovery operations. The paid version removes these restrictions.

10. What should I do if DMDE cannot find any NTFS partition?

Check the drive's hardware health. If the disk has severe corruption or physical damage, create a sector-by-sector clone and consider advanced recovery software or professional data recovery services.

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