WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app

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  1. Posts : 9
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app


    Hello! New member, long-time lurker here.

    I plugged in my WD Elements for the first time in months but Windows could not explore it. Diskmgmt reads it as RAW. (P: Drive)



    However, using MiniTool Partition Wizard (which I found somewhere in these forums), I recovered a partition and I could see my files through the app.




    Unfortunately, Windows still reads my External HDD as RAW.

    I have tried on a different computer and Windows still can't read it.

    I want windows to be able to read my HDD properly again.

    What do?

    Thanks! :)
    Last edited by JTizzle; 03 Dec 2016 at 04:23. Reason: fixed image links + wording
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #2

    Welcome to Seven Forums.

    After recovering the partition, did you reboot and check?

    Just to confirm,

    Please shut down your PC and boot it.

    1.Post a fresh screenshot of Windows Disk Management. Close Windows Disk Management.

    2. Run Partition Wizard and post a fresh screenshot of PW. (the first screen that appears as soon as you launch Partition Wizard) Close Partition Wizard.

    Note: Do not repost any old screenshots.

    Please upload the screenshots to Seven Forum servers.

    Follow the guidelines here to post an untruncataed screenshot with all the information clearly visible. Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
    Snipping Tool How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista
    Upload to Seven Forums: Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
    Last edited by jumanji; 03 Dec 2016 at 15:24.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Yeah those screenshots are after a restart; however, as requested, I've rebooted again and added new screenshots.

    Diskmgmt

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-diskmgmt-ss.png

    PW

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-pw-new-ss.png
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #4

    I have seen your post. You are in Australia and that makes it a little difficult to synchronise. Not to worry. We shall do it slowly. You can go to sleep now, and see my detailed post on handling the issue your tomorrow.

    In your case we may have to go in for data recovery rather than trying to restore your drive.And I have to do a little bit of research :).

    What do you have on your 250GB SSD and your 1TB HDD? OS and bit version. Your 1TB HDD shows a system reserved 100MB partition.

    Where is PW installed?

    I hope that the PW screenshot and Windows Disk Management are from the same OS.

    Just for info. May or May not be relevant for the issue.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 9
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    250GB SSD has my OS which is Win 7 Ultimate x64.

    Contains games and apps I frequent. PW is installed in this drive.

    1TB HDD contains more apps but is also where I have videos and pictures.

    I don't recall what the System Reserved was there for but it contains a text file named arg1

    Were there any specific applications you were looking for in the drives?

    Also, the screenshots are from the same PC.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #6

    OK, we are ready for the show.

    First and foremost there is absolutely no need to hurry up. Do things at your leisure and pace. No need to forego sleep :). As far as I can see rather perceive, your data is still there and should be recoverable. Your external drive shows 98% space used and so I have to proceed through a circuitous route without taking any risk. A failed check disk which possibly cannot run with only 2% free space can kill your data or so I would believe.. So out of consideration.

    Download TestDisk for Windows from here TestDisk Download - CGSecurity ( The second in the list.)( Do not download " Windows 64 bit" - that is not for you) Extract the testdisk-7.0.win.zip to the root of your system drive C:. You will run testdisk_win.exe in the extracted testdisk-7.0 folder.

    Boot your system, plug-in only your faulty external drive and run testdisk_win.exe

    Follow the screenshots below.

    First Screen:

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-1-no-log-enter.jpg

    Second Screen:

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-2-selectdisk.jpg

    Third Screen:

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-3-intel-enter.jpg

    Fourth Screen:

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-4-advanced-enter.jpg

    Fifth Screen

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-5-boot.jpg

    NOTE: On this screen as well as the next screen you can highlight
    [List] using left/right arrow key and press Enter to see the files. But right now we shall not do it. The aim is to check whether there is any filesystem deficiency which can be corrected. If the deficiency can be corrected the whole drive can be recovered. If the deficiency is beyond correction, then only we will use List to see the files/folders and try to copy those.

    Sixth Screen:

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-6-close.jpg

    Post this sixth screenshot and close TestDisk. Let me examine it and decide what is to be done further.

    If at any time you get a screen different from what is posted above or you have any doubts on how to proceed further, stop,take that screenshot, close TestDisk and ask for clarification. Do not try to experiment on your own.

    I am now going to bed and comeback only after another 10 hours.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 9
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks for that. Here's the screenshot of the 6th part.

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-testdisk.png
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #8

    OK, both Boot sector and Backup boot sector are OK. Now repeat till you again get this screen, Move the Highlight to [Repair MFT] and press ENTER

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-7-repair-mft.jpg

    Post a screenshot of the resulting screen showing the MFT status. After that close TestDisk.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app-mft.png
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #10

    OK, when you reach this screen Press Y and let TestDisk fix it. Let me know what happens by posting the resulting screen. I am online to give further instructions. So do not close TestDisk.

    Post the screenshot and wait for my instructions.

    If I do not respond within half an hour close Test Disk.
      My Computer


 
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