External HD NTFS -> Raw Mmmmmm

Hello all well I have a SeaGate 3TB HD. I turn off my computer for the night per usually stuff and nothing happen that was weird. Went to bed and than woke up and found out that the data for the HD is still there somewhat but is not there as well as the system think it a RAW stuff now. I went around and read other threads on the topic but think it best to open my own up as my issue is a little different.

I have use MiniTools and also use Partition Recovery Wizard and it found my lost file system with a blank name for the type. I can see it but when I click the check box to restore it it won't do it.

So I have try so far chkdsk but can't do it b/c it's a RAW.

So I'm sort of mmmm what now stage.

Thoughts?

Not to worry. All your data is there and barring unforeseen circumstances, you should be able to restore your hard drive.

From the PW screenshot you have put up, I guess that you have lost the NTFS Boot sector at sector 2048.( PW shows the the starting LBA as 0 whereas it should be 2048.)

First I would like to confirm that your 3TB drive is an MBR drive. Run PW again and post the screenshot showing your drives. ( The very first screen that appears when you launch PW) After you post the screenshot, close PW.

If it is indeed an MBR drive, in the next step, we shall use TestDisk to check whether the backup of that sector is ok and if it is, restore the corrupted NTFS boot sector with that backup.

Just download Test Disk for Windows and be ready. TestDisk Download - CGSecurity

You may then go to sleep. That gives me sometime :) to write a detailed instructions on how to go about it. ( Do not try TestDisk on your own.)

You may see my post in the morning and then proceed.

jumanji said:

Not to worry. All your data is there and barring unforeseen circumstances, you should be able to restore your hard drive.

From the PW screenshot you have put up, I guess that you have lost the NTFS Boot sector at sector 2048.( PW shows the the starting LBA as 0 whereas it should be 2048.)

First I would like to confirm that your 3TB drive is an MBR drive. Run PW again and post the screenshot showing your drives. ( The very first screen that appears when you launch PW) After you post the screenshot, close PW.

If it is indeed an MBR drive, in the next step, we shall use TestDisk to check whether the backup of that sector is ok and if it is, restore the corrupted NTFS boot sector with that backup.

Just download Test Disk for Windows and be ready. TestDisk Download - CGSecurity

You may then go to sleep. That gives me sometime :) to write a detailed instructions on how to go about it. ( Do not try TestDisk on your own.)

You may see my post in the morning and then proceed.

Thanks for your help jumanji, here is the pictures you request.

I don't want a truncated PW screenshot. Please post a full screenshot showing both the system drive and the Seagate external drive.

Here the full picture. I'm off to bed now, hope this helps. :)

jumanji said:

Your 3TB drive - the last one in the PW screenshot - appears to be a GPT drive and appears perfect in the screenshot. How do you say it had turned RAW?????? Clarify.

It now appears to me that your inability to access the drive/folder is due to some other cause.

Now do this to make things clear. We have to start ab-initio.

Safely remove all other external drives except the Seagate 3TB external drive which you say has turned RAW. ( I do not want to see any other drive/s except those inside your PC and the 3TB Seagate external drive.It will also ensure that you do not perform any recommended action on a wrong external drive.) Also please disconnect from the internet. (I do not want to see any networked drives intruding.)

Post an untruncated screenshot of Windows Disk Management. Please read this tutorial and adhere to the guidelines to post an untruncated screenshot with all the information seen.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Also post a screenshot of PW showing only your internal drive/s and only the problem 3TB external drive.

After a wrong start, we have to start from ground zero again.

Only after seeing the above two screenshots, can we decide what needs to be done further.

I think were still on the right path but I need some time, before posting all the stuff I didn't know I had a pass scan going that was set to run upon the next reboot, but it was decline by the OS Cmd saying it was a RAW file, also PW said it was a "Bad Disk" with black lines. Fast forward to after posting the shots I notice that I had a scan going but didn't understand why the PW said it was a GPT when it was saying before it was "Bad Disk" current the scan below is going and I didn't want to stop it. As this is a 3TB HD I would think this will take some time. Do you want me to stop it and see what happens are make sure it keep going? As I didn't get this to work before and I'm a little shocked.

Obviously some corrections have taken place/are taking place.

Let whatever runs - check disk - finish the job. No need to be in a hurry. We can go slowly and steadily.

jumanji said:

Obviously some corrections have taken place/are taking place.

Let whatever runs - check disk - finish the job. No need to be in a hurry. We can go slowly and steadily.

No problem, my thoughts is that it be finish by this weekend as 3TB is a lot of stuff to scan. I post again when it finish and the results.

Zak

Never mind. Let it take its own time. Do not abort check Disk for any reason. That can make matters worse. If it aborts by itself it is OK - we have no control over it - but note down any error message it throws out when aborting by itself and post.

I shall be peeping into Seven Forums atleast ten times during my day time, and I shall catch you whenever you post.