📎 AI Summary:
The forum discussion centers on how to recover data from a "raw" external hard drive that prompts formatting. The original poster suggests using data recovery software to retrieve files before formatting the drive, emphasizing that formatting does not erase files but makes them inaccessible. Subsequent contributors clarify that formatting typically erases data, and recommend solutions like data recovery tools or converting file systems via command prompt as possible methods to access files on the raw disk. Overall, the thread provides advice on data recovery approaches for raw drives, with a cautious tone regarding data loss.

youbetter

New Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2014
Messages
3
Thread Author #1
If you are asked to format the external hard disk before you can use it, then you mat meet the external hard disk raw error. That external hard disk can not be used before we format it. Some people worry about losing data saved on the external drive previously. We need not to be worried, as we can restore them from the raw external hard disk. We should format it later.

Here are the steps as follows:

Step1. Download and mount the data recovery software on the computer.

Step2. Connect the raw external hard disk to the computer, too.

Step3. Run the data restoration tool by double clicking it. Then we can choose the recovery model and aim disk to scan.

Step4. Wait some minutes to preview the contents in the list after scanning and we can pick up the wanted to recover.

Step5. Select one of the computer hard disks as the location to save files to be recovered.

Useful link: http://www.ucfix.com/data-recovery/external-hard-disk-asking-to-format-it.html
 

Pauli

Fantastic Member
Premium Supporter
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
2,484
I don't really get the point. The drive has to be formatted before taken into use, and once it's formatted, it is. And the data is there.

Are you referring to a re-installation, after a major crash?
 

youbetter

New Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2014
Messages
3
Thread Author #3
those files are not really been erased after the formatting. when it is raw, we just can not see them.
 

Joe S

Excellent Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2009
Messages
3,781
You can try data recovery software. As a last ditch you might running the command prompt to convert the disk from FAT32 to NTFS. It sometimes works this link shows the command to use Link Removed
Joe