How to Fix RAW SD Card Without Formatting - 8 Fixes

Can I fix a RAW SD card without formatting or losing any data? Sure! EaseUS Software noticed that many users are stuck with a RAW SD card. Formatting is an efficient way to repair a RAW SD card; however, it will erase all data. Hence, most users are looking for a way to repair a RAW SD card without formatting or losing data. Here is a real case from Reddit:

How to convert raw sd card to NTFS or Fat without formatting?
byu/Chell2_0 incomputers

This post covers 8 fixes to repair a RAW SD card without formatting or losing data. Continue to read and learn how to repair a RAW SD card.

Why SD Card Showing as RAW

Before checking the SD card RAW format fixes, it's worth learning why your SD card suddenly turned into RAW and became inaccessible.

Why does your SD card turn into RAW and suddenly become inaccessible? The following are possible reasons: The 

• 🚩 The SD card file system is corrupted or lost.
• 🚩File system incompatibility.
• 🚩Improper use, sudden ejection without a secure deletion option, stopping file transfer in the middle, etc.
• 🚩Virus attacks or malware infections can cause the SD card to change to RAW. The 
• 🚩 The SD card is of poor quality.

These are the common causes of a RAW SD card. To fix a RAW SD card without losing data, EaseUS Software offers six ways to help. If this post helps you, do not forget to share it by clicking the following buttons.

How to Fix RAW SD Card Without Formatting

Can I fix RAW SD card without formatting? Sure. The following six fixes can help you fix a RAW SD card without losing any data:

• Fix 1: Use Another USB Port, Card Reader, or PC
• Fix 2: Fix RAW SD Card using Error Checking Tool
• Fix 3: Recover RAW SD Card using CHKDSK
• Fix 4: Assign a New Drive Letter for RAW SD Card
• Fix 5: Reinstall SD Card Drivers
• Fix 6: Set RAW SD Card Active
• Fix 7. Recover Data From SD Card
• Fix 8. Delete RAW Partition

However, before repairing the RAW SD card, it is recommended that you recover your data first. Well, if you can obviously see that your SD card is physically damaged, seek help from a repair center or data recovery center.

Fix 1: Use Another USB Port, Card Reader, or PC

A damaged card reader or USB port may cause the computer to fail to recognize the SD card and mark it as RAW. Therefore, when your SD card becomes RAW, the first thing you should try is the following check: 

⚠️Check physical connections

• Unlock the SD card and reconnect it. There is a small physical switch on the side of the SD card that locks and unlocks the SD card.
• Restart your computer and reconnect the SD card. Restarting the computer may resolve many random errors.
• Remove dust and debris from the SD card or USB port.
• Try another USB port, or a card reader (if you are using a micro SD card).

Fix 2: Fix RAW SD Card using Error Checking Tool

If there is no problem with the SD card and the physical connection, try the Error Checker tool. Windows provides its own Error Checker tool, which can check for file system errors and fix them on your drive. This section also provides a three-way tool to check and fix SD card errors. 

First, let's start with the error checking tool that comes with Windows.

Step 1. Connect the RAW SD card to your Windows PC. Then, open File Explorer, right-click on it, and select Properties.

Step 2. In the Properties window, go to the Tools tab and click Check under the Error Checking section.

Step 3. Click Scan Drive to find out the file system error and fix it.

Here is a quick guide on using third-party software to check SD card errors. EaseUS Partition Master can scan the SD card deeply and fix the logical bad sectors and file system errors automatically. Especially for beginners, it's much easier to use.

Step 1. Open EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. Then, locate the disk, right-click the partition you want to check, and choose "Advanced" > "Check File System".

Step 2. In the Check File System window, keep the "Try to fix errors if found" option selected and click "Start".

Step 3. The software will begin checking your partition file system on your disk. When it completes, click "Finish".

This typically fixes a RAW SD card or fixes a RAW external hard drive without formatting.

Fix 3: Fix RAW SD Card using CHKDSK

CHKDSK is a command-line version of the error-checking tool that is more flexible and has a wealth of error-checking options. You will need to connect the RAW SD card to a Windows PC. 

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and select Terminal (Administrator).

Step 2. type chkdsk H: /f /r or chkdsk H: /f /r /x and press Enter. It will start checking for RAW SD card file system errors and fix them. (Replace Z with the letter of your SD card.)

 

 Notice: 

• /f - tells it to fix errors on the disk.
• /r - tells it to locate bad sectors and recover readable information.
• /x - tells it to force the volume to dismount first if necessary.

Fix 4. Assign a Drive Letter to the RAW SD Card

An SD card may become RAW if it lacks a drive letter. Instead of formatting it, you can choose to assign it a new drive letter to fix this error. Please connect your RAW SD card to a working Windows PC in advance.

Step 1. Right-click the Windows Start menu and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click on the RAW SD card and select the Change drive letter and path option.

Step 3. Click the Change option and then select the new drive letter from the drop-down menu. Then click OK to apply the changes.

Share this post and let more users know how to convert a RAW SD card to NTFS/FAT32/exFAT and fix a RAW SD card without losing data.

Fix 5: Reinstall SD Card Drivers

Windows automatically installs drivers for newly connected drives at this time, but sometimes it fails. Therefore, you need to manually install the driver to turn the SD card from RAW into a recognized file system. Here is how to fix a RAW SD card:

Step 1. Download and install the driver from the manufacturer's website. 

• Visit your laptop manufacturer's support website (e.g. HP, Dell, Asus). 
• Enter your laptop model number and look for the SD card reader driver under the driver section.
• Download and install the driver, then restart your laptop.

Step 2. In Device Manager, locate the SD card reader under Disk Drives.

Step 3. Right-click it > Select Update Driver > Select Browse my computer for drivers > Follow prompts to finish.

Fix 6. Set the RAW SD Card as Active

Setting the RAW SD card as active may restore a RAW SD card to normal status. Here is how to fix a RAW SD card without formatting: 

Step 1. Open Disk Management: 

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter to open Disk Management.

Step 2. Identify the RAW SD card: 

• In Disk Management, locate your SD card. It should be listed as a RAW device.

Step 3. Mark SD Card Partition as Active: 

• Right-click on the RAW SD card partition and select Mark Partition as Active.
• After marking the partition as active, go to File Explorer to see if the SD card is now accessible.

Fix 7. Recover Data From RAW SD Card

If your SD card shows up as RAW, the file system is corrupted or missing, making the card inaccessible. Before attempting any repair, it’s crucial to recover your data to avoid permanent loss. There are many data recovery software, such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This software can scan RAW SD cards deeply to locate and recover photos, videos, documents, and other files without requiring formatting. 

Fix 8. Delete RAW SD Card - with Data Loss

Deleting the RAW SD Card may converting it from RAW to normal. However, before getting started, make sure you've read the following notice.

Step-by-Step Guide to Delete RAW Partition Using Windows Disk Management

Step 1. Connect the SD Card.

Insert your SD card into your PC via a card reader or built-in slot.

Step 2. Open Disk Management.

Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management from the menu. Find your SD card in the Disk Management window by checking the disk size and status. The RAW partition will usually show as "RAW".

Step 3. Delete the RAW Partition.

Right-click the RAW partition on your SD card and select Delete Volume. Confirm the deletion when prompted. Then, the partition will become Unallocated space once deleted.

Step 4. Create a New Partition (Optional).

To reuse the SD card, right-click the unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume. Follow the wizard to format the partition (commonly FAT32 or exFAT) and assign a drive letter.

Step 5. Safely Eject the SD Card.

After formatting, safely remove the SD card and test it on your device to ensure it works properly.

Bonus Tip: How to Avoid RAW SD Card

When the SD card turned into RAW, you can try the fixes above to turn it back to a normal file system.  But actually, you can do a lot to avoid a RAW SD card file system error.  

🛡️Proper Ejection: Always use the "Eject" option when removing the SD card from devices to prevent file system corruption.

🛡️Stable Power Supply: Ensure that devices connected to the SD card have a stable power supply to prevent power failures during data writing.

🛡️Regular Checks and Maintenance

Regularly use tools like CHKDSK to check for and fix file system errors on the SD card, and keep the drivers for your SD card reader up to date to avoid recognition issues.  

🛡️Protect Against Physical Damage: Avoid exposing the SD card to extreme temperatures, moisture, or physical stress.

🛡️Virus Protection: Use Antivirus Software: Regularly scan your SD card for malware to prevent file system corruption.

🛡️Correct Form: Format the SD card with a file system compatible with the devices you plan to use it with (e.g., FAT32 for cameras).Regular Backups

🛡️Backup Data: Regularly back up important data from the SD card to prevent data loss in case of corruption.

Conclusion

I showed you the possible causes of RAW SD cards and how to repair a RAW SD card without formatting it. Usually, these methods work. If none of these methods fix the problem, you must format the RAW disk to NTFS or another recognized file system such as FAT32, exFAT, etc.

If you don't want to lose data, you can look for data recovery software before repairing it. If your SD card is in RAW state due to physical damage, you need to seek help from a professional RAW drive repair tool or data recovery center.

FAQs About RAW SD Card Fix

Check the following FAQs to learn how to fix a RAW SD card without causing any data loss.

1. How to fix a RAW SD Card using CMD?

CHKDSK may not work, and you might get a message that says, "CHKDSK is not available for RAW drive." You can run CMD to format the RAW SD card to NTFS or FAT32:

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Type the following commands and press Enter after each:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk X (replace X with the number of the SD card)
• clean
• create partition primary
• format fs=ntfs quick
• exit

2. Why won't the RAW SD card format?

Here are the common causes of the RAW SD card won't format error:

• File System Corruption: The file system on the SD card is damaged or corrupted, making it unreadable by the computer.
• Virus or Malware Infection: Viruses can corrupt the file system, preventing formatting.
• Physical Damage: Physical damage to the card can cause formatting issues.
• Improper Formatting: Attempting to format the card with an incompatible file system or experiencing errors during formatting can result in a RAW state.
• Write Protection: If the SD card is write-protected, Windows cannot format it.
• Bad Sectors: The presence of bad sectors can prevent successful formatting.

3. How to fix a corrupted SD card without formatting on a mobile?

Fixing a corrupted SD card without formatting on a mobile device is challenging because most methods require a computer or involve formatting. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially fix issues on your Android device:

1. Check for Physical Damage: Inspect the SD card for cracks or damage.
2. Unlock the SD Card: Ensure the write protection switch is in the unlocked position.
3. Clean the Card and Slot: Wipe the SD card and the card slot with a soft cloth.
4. Try a Different Card Reader: Use another USB port or card reader to connect your SD card.
5. Update Your Device: Make sure your Android device is running the latest software.

If none of the above steps work, you may need to format the SD card through your Android device. Before doing so, try to recover any important data using a computer and data recovery software.