HDD went from NTFS to RAW

AAEIV · December 11, 2012

I was using my external HDD (2TB Seagate) in order to transfer files. During that, I noticed some malfunctions on my system (it was running too slow, Windows Explorer crashed).

When Explorer crashed, file transportation stopped. I was afraid, but I tried to access my data and it seemed to be working. I tried to open a movie but it couldn't load. I thought of restarting, which took so long... So I unplugged the HDD and at that time it managed to shut down. I logged on to Vista but the disk couldn't be mounted. I plugged it but nothing happened. I unplugged it and I heard this specific sound that notifies that something has been unplugged.

I thought of logging to Ubuntu 10.04 and see what I can do. I plugged the HDD, but I couldn't see it. I opened GParted but I couldn't see it either. I tried with Disc Utility and there it was! I tried to mount it but a got an error message stating to run chkdsk.

I typed


chkdsk F: /i

for a quick check and I am waiting...It didn't seem however to be doing something...

Having external drive plugged in causes serious problems on my system's speed. I unplugged it. As soon as I did it, the chkdsk has finished. The answer is that the file system isn't NTFS but RAW.

I then tried to fix this issue using testdisk.

The log from my first attempt is the following


Sat Oct 27 10:51:01 2012
Command line: TestDisk[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]TestDisk 6.11, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER [/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]OS: Linux, kernel 2.6.32-42-generic (#95-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 25 15:56:09 UTC 2012)
Compiler: GCC 4.4 - Jun 23 2009 17:48:38
ext2fs lib: 1.41.11, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: none
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size	 488397168 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max 488397168 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 488397168 sectors
/dev/sda: dco	 488397168 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - CHS 1 1 1, sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 250 GB / 232 GiB - CHS 30401 255 63, sector size=512 - ATA WDC WD2500BEVS-2
Disk /dev/sdd - 4009 MB / 3824 MiB - CHS 1018 124 62, sector size=512 - FLASH Drive SM_USB20
Disk /dev/sde - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - CHS 243201 255 63, sector size=512 - Seagate Desktop[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sde - 2000 GB / 1863 GiB - Seagate Desktop
Partition table type: Intel[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]Interface Advanced
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/1/1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=2
1 P HPFS - NTFS			 0 1 1 243200 254 63 3907024002 [Expansion Drive]
	 NTFS, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]ntfs_boot_sector
1 P HPFS - NTFS			 0 1 1 243200 254 63 3907024002 [Expansion Drive]
	 NTFS, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB
NTFS at 0/1/1
file_pread(6,16,buffer,3907024064(243200/254/63)) read err: Input/output error
filesystem size		 3907024002 1
sectors_per_cluster	 8 0
mft_lcn				 786432 0
mftmirr_lcn			 244189000 0
clusters_per_mft_record -10 0
clusters_per_index_record 1 0
Boot sector
Status: OK[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]Backup boot sector
ntfs_boot_sector: Can't read backup boot sector.
Status: Bad[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]Sectors are not identical.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]A valid NTFS Boot sector must be present in order to access
any data; even if the partition is not bootable.
Failed to read $MFTMirr: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
Failed to read index block: Input/output error.
ntfs_device_testdisk_io_ioctl() unimplemented
file_pread(6,8,buffer,1953512063(121600/127/63)) read err: Input/output error
ntfs_device_testdisk_io_ioctl() unimplemented
NTFS filesystem need to be repaired.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]file_pread(6,8,buffer,1953512143(121600/129/17)) read err: Input/output error
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism
file_pread(6,8,buffer,660335(41/26/33)) read err: Input/output error
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /ElectroMagnetism
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /ElectroMagnetism
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /ElectroMagnetism
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /ElectroMagnetism
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /ElectroMagnetism
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /ElectroMagnetism
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
ntfs_readdir failed
Directory /
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 .
	 5 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 25-May-2011 23:32 ..
	 62 dr-xr-xr-x	 0	 0		 0 5-Aug-2011 22:16 ElectroMagnetism[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]ntfs_boot_sector
1 P HPFS - NTFS			 0 1 1 243200 254 63 3907024002 [Expansion Drive]
	 NTFS, 2000 GB / 1863 GiB
NTFS at 0/1/1
filesystem size		 3907024002 1
sectors_per_cluster	 8 0
mft_lcn				 786432 0
mftmirr_lcn			 244189000 0
clusters_per_mft_record -10 0
clusters_per_index_record 1 0
Boot sector
Status: OK[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]Backup boot sector
ntfs_boot_sector: Can't read backup boot sector.
Status: Bad[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]Sectors are not identical.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#273D49][font=arial][size=3]A valid NTFS Boot sector must be present in order to access
any data; even if the partition is not bootable.
Failed to read $MFTMirr: Input/output error.

I also run photorec. After some passes there are no files recovered.

The report from the procedure is


<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<dfxml xmloutputversion='1.0'>
<metadata
xmlns=' '
xmlns:xsi=' '
xmlns:dc=' '>
<dc:type>Carve Report</dc:type>
</metadata>
<creator>
<package>PhotoRec</package>
<version>6.13</version>
<build_environment>
	 <compiler>GCC 4.6</compiler>
	 <compilation_date>2012-02-05T07:15:52</compilation_date>
	 <library name='libext2fs' version='1.42'/>
	 <library name='libewf' version='none'/>
	 <library name='libjpeg' version='80'/>
	 <library name='libntfs' version='10:0:0'/>
</build_environment>
<execution_environment>
	 <os_sysname>Linux</os_sysname>
	 <os_release>3.2.0-33-generic</os_release>
	 <os_version>#52-Ubuntu SMP Thu Oct 18 16:29:15 UTC 2012</os_version>
	 <host>MITsMag</host>
	 <arch>x86_64</arch>
	 <uid>0</uid>
	 <start_time>2012-11-19T19:04:17+0200</start_time>
</execution_environment>
</creator>
<source>
<image_filename>/dev/sdb</image_filename>
<sectorsize>512</sectorsize>
<device_model>Seagate Desktop</device_model>
<image_size>2000398934016</image_size>
<volume>
	 <byte_runs>
	 <byte_run offset='0' img_offset='32256' len='2000396289024'/>
	 </byte_runs>
</volume>
</source>
<configuration>
</configuration>
</dfxml>

All the previous attempts were done on ubuntu because vista cannot see the HDD.

What can I do to recover my precious data?http://www.vistaforu...es/confused.gif

Thank you in advance!

-pops- · December 12, 2012

Not good news, I'm afraid but, whenever I've had this reversion to RAW data happen on external drives (Western Digital twice, Seagate once) the result was loss of all the contained data and replacement of the drive by the manufacturer under warranty.

Don't hold out much hope of recovery and don't expect the replacement drive to be much good either - replacements are (very) limited warranty refurbished drives resulting from the repair of previously failed items which have been returned.

AAEIV · December 12, 2012

Thank you very much for your answer.

I think that if I manage to format it, I will recover the vast majority of my data.

The thing is that the drive won't let me to...

Vista cannot see it plugged in, XP sometimes do sometimes don't...

I haven't yet tried with 7...

Any tool for a "violent" format?

ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb · December 13, 2012

Try http://partedmagic.com/

AAEIV · December 26, 2012

Thank you very much for your answer!

As I saw, parted magic is something like ubuntu's gparted, right?

If yes, gparted cannot see my HDD; only disk utility can.

MANEMAN · December 26, 2012

That's right it is nothing like that one. But is more as you have seen correct.

Use test disk on parted magic

http://partedmagic.c...php?id=programs

AAEIV · December 26, 2012

The thing is that I have already tried test disk(and photo rec) in ubuntu..

Do you think it will make any difference running test disk from a botable CD?

AAEIV · December 26, 2012

I've tried with the bootable CD but it couldn't recognise my HDD.

At first I thought of running a disk health. My device was named "Unknown" and I got the message

\dev/sdb failed: No such device

Then I tried with GParted but it couldn't find my HDD.

Finally I tried to mount it from a "mount utility" or sth like that but it couldn't be mounted.

The first time I tried I got an error


Run: Mount /dev/sdb
Status: Finished with error(exit status 1)
udevil: error 64: unable to determine device fstype specify with -t

After that there was a list of all my drives. When I selected the external one I got the error message


Run: Mount /dev/sdb1
Status: Finished with error(exit status 18)
Failed to write lock '/dev/sdb1' : Resource temporalily unavailable
Error opening '/dev/sdb1':Resource temporalily unavailable
Failed to mount :Resource temporalily unavailable

The second time I tried to mount it I got a new error message


Run: Mount /dev/sdb
Status: Finished with error(exit status 1)
udevil: error 57: Cannot stat /dev/sdb: No such file or directory

Any ideas on what's going on?

MANEMAN · December 26, 2012

You are spending too long coming up with a fix.

Take it to a repair professional before you trash it beyond repair pal. This may not be your particular area of expertise.

AAEIV · December 27, 2012

Thank's for the advice.

The thing is that I can't afford a professional repair, that's why I am trying to fix it by my own.

Fortunately the HDD is still in warranty, but the company doesn't give guarantee for data loss...

Another thought I made was the following: Could the problem be the case and not the HDD?

Is there a way to test that, without having to take it apart?

-pops- · December 27, 2012

I'm doubtful it would be the case hardware that has failed. One of the drives I had replaced under warranty failed in a very short time so I took that apart. All that was there other than the drive itself and its power connections was a small SATA to USB/Firewire converter card. I removed the drive and wired it directly to the SATA connectors in a computer. I should have not bothered, it was still dead.

AAEIV · December 28, 2012

Do you have any suggestions for a technician who might be able to recover my files?

I have contacted Seagate and I am waiting for their opinion too...

AAEIV · December 28, 2012

Now I tried something a bit different in test disk...

After disk selection, when I should choose "type" usually I was using default "Intel".

I chose "No Type" and started a search.

It is now running but I think it is slow.

After an hour, 1% has been searched.

This means that I will need ~2.5 days to finish the whole procedure. Is this all right?

I remember when choosing "Intel" type I needed about half an hour for a search...

How long is it supposed to last in a 2TB HDD?

bludgard · December 29, 2012

How long is it supposed to last in a 2TB HDD?

This means that I will need ~2.5 days to finish the whole procedure.

Sounds about right.

Data recovery is usually painfully slow. But then again, what are your options?

Arleen64564 · July 24, 2013

Don’t panic!

The RAW drive problem often occurs for many reasons, such as the drive problems, virus infection and even computer operating system problems, etc. Therefore, you are supposed to act carefully.

However, in most cases, this problem could be fixed by re-formatting. Therefore, you could also format it to take chances.

In order not to cause any data loss, before the formatting, you should firstly restore the inner saved data back with the help of data recovery software.

There are many data recovery freeware available online that could work much more efficiently than some paid ones, such as Recuva, TestDisk and iCare Data Recovery Free, etc.

Note: If the formatting process could not fix this problem, you drive must get some problems. You should consult an expert for help, if the inner data is very, very important.

ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb · July 24, 2013

Don’t panic!

Don't worry; the o/p is not panicking. After all, it happened 8 months ago...

PertyJean · October 3, 2013

Use Hiran’s boot CD. That’s the best tool with error free.

Gandalph · October 13, 2013

PertyJean, this post is from July this year. I think the problem will have been solved by now. :D

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HDD went from NTFS to RAW

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