How to Recover Files From a Drive That Shows as RAW (September 2026) Guide

Seeing your drive show up as RAW in Windows Disk Management is one of the most stressful storage problems you can encounter. One minute your files are right there, and the next, Windows asks you to format the disk before you can use it. I’ve helped dozens of people through this exact scenario, and the good news is that your data is very likely still recoverable.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to recover files from a drive that shows as RAW, step by step. We’ll cover what a RAW drive actually means, what you should never do when you see one, and multiple recovery methods using both free and paid tools. I’ll also explain how to fix the RAW partition afterward so you can use the drive again.

To recover files from a drive that shows as RAW: (1) Do NOT format the drive or run CHKDSK. (2) Download and install a RAW partition recovery tool like TestDisk (free), Disk Drill, or DiskGenius. (3) Connect the RAW drive, run a deep scan, preview recoverable files, and save them to a different drive. (4) After recovery, format the RAW partition to NTFS or FAT32 to restore normal use.

Before we get into the recovery steps, there’s something critical you need to know. The single most important thing you can do right now is stop using the drive. Every additional write operation reduces your chances of getting your files back. Let me explain why this matters so much.

What NOT to Do When Your Drive Shows as RAW

This section comes first for a reason. Many people lose their data permanently not because the RAW drive was unrecoverable, but because they took the wrong action before attempting recovery. Forum communities like r/datarecovery on Reddit see this scenario play out over and over again.

Here is what you must avoid doing when you discover a RAW drive.

Do NOT Click “Format Disk”

When Windows shows the error “You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it,” your instinct might be to click OK. Do not do this. Formatting overwrites the file system structures and can permanently destroy the file table that maps your data.

Quick formatting is less destructive than a full format, but both reduce recovery success rates significantly. Close that prompt immediately and move on to recovery.

Do NOT Run CHKDSK on a RAW Drive

CHKDSK is a great tool for fixing minor file system errors on a healthy NTFS drive. But running CHKDSK on a RAW drive will typically fail with an error like “The type of the file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives.” In some cases, forcing it can actually worsen the corruption.

I’ve seen forum posts from users who ran CHKDSK repeatedly hoping it would fix things, only to push the drive into a worse state. Save the repair tools for after you’ve recovered your data.

Do NOT Write Any New Data to the Drive

Every file you save, every tool you install, and every scan log that writes back to the RAW drive risks overwriting the very data you’re trying to recover. The old data physically still exists on the disk sectors until something new writes over it.

Think of it like a book where the table of contents got destroyed. The pages with your story are still there, but if you start writing new pages, you’ll cover up the old content permanently.

Do NOT Keep Using the Drive

If the RAW drive is your system drive (the C: drive), stop using the computer immediately. Every minute the OS runs, it writes temporary files, logs, and cache data. Shut down the PC, remove the drive, and connect it to another computer as a secondary drive for recovery.

If it’s an external drive, disconnect it right now. Reconnect it only when you’re ready to run recovery software.

What Does It Mean When a Drive Shows as RAW?

A RAW drive is a storage device where the operating system can no longer recognize the file system. When you open Disk Management on Windows, instead of seeing NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT next to your drive, you see the word “RAW.” The drive is physically present, but Windows has no idea how to read the data on it.

This happens because every file system relies on specific metadata structures to organize and locate files. On NTFS, that includes the Master File Table ($MFT) and the boot sector. On FAT32, it includes the File Allocation Table and directory entries. When these structures get damaged or corrupted, the operating system can’t make sense of the data, so it falls back to showing the drive as RAW.

Here’s the key point: RAW does not mean your data is gone. Your files likely still exist on the physical disk sectors. The problem is purely logical, meaning the roadmap that tells the operating system where each file lives has been damaged. Recovery software rebuilds or bypasses that roadmap to pull your files directly from the disk.

RAW vs Unallocated vs Uninitialized: What’s the Difference?

These three terms get confused a lot, and understanding the difference helps you know what you’re dealing with.

RAW means the drive has a recognized partition, but the file system within that partition is corrupted. The partition exists in the partition table, but Windows can’t read the file system format.

Unallocated means the drive has no partition at all. The space is available but hasn’t been carved into a usable partition. This usually happens after partition table corruption or accidental deletion.

Uninitialized means the drive doesn’t even have a partition table or MBR/GPT signature. Windows sees the physical disk but treats it as a brand-new, never-configured drive.

RAW is the most common of the three, and it’s also the most recoverable because the partition structure itself is usually still intact.

Common Symptoms of a RAW Drive

Recognizing the signs of a RAW drive early helps you avoid making the problem worse. Here are the symptoms you’re most likely to encounter.

“You need to format the disk in drive X: before you can use it.” This is the most common warning. Windows detects the drive but can’t read the file system, so it offers to format it. Always click Cancel.

“The volume does not contain a recognized file system.” This error appears when you try to open the drive in File Explorer. It confirms that the file system metadata is damaged.

“X:\ is not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.” Another variation of the same underlying problem. The OS knows the drive exists but can’t parse its contents.

Disk Management shows RAW instead of NTFS or FAT32. Open Disk Management (right-click Start, select Disk Management) and look at the file system column. If it says RAW, your partition’s file system structure is damaged.

Drive shows 0 bytes or wrong capacity. Sometimes a RAW drive displays incorrect size information in File Explorer. It might show 0 bytes free and 0 bytes used, even though the drive is full of data.

CHKDSK reports “The type of the file system is RAW.” If you try to run CHKDSK on the drive, it will refuse to proceed and display this message. This is actually a diagnostic clue confirming the RAW state.

What Causes a Drive to Show as RAW?

Understanding the cause helps you choose the right recovery method and prevent the problem from happening again. Drives don’t usually go RAW without a reason.

Improper Ejection or Unsafe Removal

This is the number one cause for external drives, USB flash drives, and SD cards. When you pull out a drive without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option, the operating system might be in the middle of a write operation. Interrupting that write can corrupt the file system metadata.

Forum users on r/datarecovery consistently report that improper ejection is the leading cause of RAW external drives. The file system was caught mid-update, leaving structures incomplete.

Sudden Power Loss or Power Surges

A power outage while the drive is writing data can damage the boot sector, MFT, or file allocation tables. Desktop computers without a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) are especially vulnerable. The write gets cut off mid-operation, and the file system is left in an inconsistent state.

Bad Sectors Developing on the Disk

Over time, physical sectors on a hard drive can degrade and become unreadable. If these failing sectors happen to overlap with critical file system structures like the MFT or boot sector, the drive will show as RAW even though most of the data is still intact.

Bad sectors are more common on older drives and drives that have been heavily used. Running a surface scan after recovery can tell you if the drive is still reliable enough to use.

Partition Table or MBR Corruption

The Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) tells the operating system how the disk is divided into partitions. If this structure gets corrupted, the OS may not be able to locate the file system within a partition, causing it to report as RAW.

MBR corruption can happen due to malware, software conflicts, or even other partitioning tools that didn’t complete their operations properly.

Malware or Virus Attacks

Certain types of malware specifically target file system structures. Some viruses overwrite the boot sector or corrupt the partition table as part of their payload. If your drive went RAW shortly after a malware infection, this could be the cause.

Why SSDs Show as RAW

SSDs have additional layers of complexity compared to traditional hard drives. An SSD showing as RAW is often related to firmware issues rather than simple file system corruption. The SSD controller manages wear leveling, garbage collection, and logical block mapping behind the scenes.

If the SSD firmware encounters a bug or the controller enters a failure state, the drive may suddenly appear as RAW. In these cases, standard recovery software may still work, but if the controller has failed entirely, you may need professional data recovery services that can bypass the controller using specialized hardware.

SSDs can also go RAW due to TRIM commands that have already marked certain blocks as available, making deleted file recovery harder than on traditional HDDs.

Physical Damage vs Logical Damage

This distinction matters because it determines whether DIY recovery is safe.

Logical damage means the physical disk is healthy, but the software structures are corrupted. The drive doesn’t make clicking or grinding noises, and it’s detected normally by the computer. This is the scenario where recovery software works well.

Physical damage means the drive has hardware problems like failing read/write heads, a damaged platter, or a malfunctioning controller. Signs include clicking sounds, grinding noises, the drive not spinning up, or the drive not being detected at all. If you suspect physical damage, stop immediately and consult a professional data recovery service. Running recovery software on a physically failing drive can cause permanent data loss.

How to Recover Files From a Drive That Shows as RAW: Step-by-Step Methods

Now let’s get into the actual recovery process. I’ll cover multiple methods, starting with free tools and moving to paid options. The method you choose depends on your comfort level, the severity of corruption, and the type of data you need to recover.

Before starting any method, make sure you have a separate healthy drive with enough free space to hold your recovered files. Never save recovered data back to the RAW drive itself.

Method 1: Recover RAW Partition Data Using TestDisk (Free)

TestDisk is a free, open-source tool that excels at repairing partition tables and recovering RAW partitions. It doesn’t just recover individual files; it can actually restore the entire partition structure, which means you get your filenames and folder hierarchy back intact.

Here’s how to use TestDisk for RAW drive recovery.

Step 1: Download TestDisk from the official CGSecurity website. It’s free and doesn’t require installation. Extract the archive to a folder on your healthy drive, not the RAW drive.

Step 2: Launch TestDisk as Administrator. You’ll see a text-based interface. Don’t let the command-line look intimidate you; it’s straightforward once you follow the prompts.

Step 3: Select “Create” a new log file. This helps track the recovery process in case something goes wrong.

Step 4: Select your RAW drive from the list of detected media. TestDisk shows all connected drives, so make sure you pick the right one. Check the disk size to confirm.

Step 5: Select the partition table type. For most Windows drives, this will be “Intel” (MBR). For newer systems with UEFI, it might be “EFI GPT.” TestDisk usually auto-detects the correct type.

Step 6: Select “Analyse” then “Quick Search.” TestDisk will scan the drive for existing or lost partitions. This process can take a few minutes depending on drive size.

Step 7: Review the found partitions. TestDisk will display any partitions it located, including ones that are no longer in the partition table. Press “P” to list files and verify the partition contains your data.

Step 8: If the correct partition is found, select “Write” to restore the partition table. This writes the recovered partition information back to the disk, effectively repairing the RAW state.

Step 9: Restart your computer. After the partition table is rewritten, the drive should appear normally in Windows with your files intact.

TestDisk is incredibly effective when the problem is partition table corruption. Forum users consistently recommend it as the first tool to try for RAW partition recovery. However, if the file system itself is damaged (not just the partition table), you’ll need a file-level recovery tool like PhotoRec or Disk Drill.

Method 2: Recover RAW Drive Files Using PhotoRec (Free)

PhotoRec comes bundled with TestDisk and uses a technique called data carving. Instead of relying on file system metadata, it scans the raw disk sectors looking for known file signatures like JPEG headers, PDF markers, DOCX structures, and more.

The advantage of data carving is that it works even when the file system is completely destroyed. The disadvantage is that you lose all filenames and folder structures. Recovered files are named things like file0001.jpg and file0002.pdf.

Step 1: Launch PhotoRec from the same TestDisk download.

Step 2: Select your RAW drive from the media list.

Step 3: Choose the destination folder on a separate healthy drive. Never select the RAW drive as your destination.

Step 4: Select “File Opt” to choose which file types to recover. By default, PhotoRec recovers all supported types, but you can speed up the scan by selecting only the file types you need.

Step 5: Start the scan. PhotoRec will read every sector on the drive and extract files based on their signatures. This can take several hours on large drives.

Step 6: Browse recovered files in the destination folder. Sort by file type and use the preview thumbnails to identify your important files.

PhotoRec is particularly effective for recovering photos, videos, and documents from severely corrupted RAW drives where other tools fail. Many forum users pair TestDisk (for partition repair) with PhotoRec (for file extraction) as a powerful free recovery combo.

Method 3: Recover Files Using Disk Drill (Paid, Free Preview)

Disk Drill is a commercial recovery tool with a more user-friendly interface than TestDisk or PhotoRec. It offers both quick scan and deep scan modes, and it includes a file preview feature so you can see what’s recoverable before paying.

The free version lets you scan and preview up to 500MB of recoverable data. If you need to recover more, you’ll need to purchase a license.

Step 1: Download and install Disk Drill from the official CleverFiles website. Install it on your healthy drive, not the RAW drive.

Step 2: Launch Disk Drill and select your RAW drive from the device list. It will likely show the drive with a “RAW” or “Unformatted” label.

Step 3: Choose “All Recovery Methods” or select specific scan types. The deep scan option reads every sector and is more thorough but takes longer.

Step 4: Start the scan. Disk Drill will display found files in real time as it scans. You can pause or stop the scan once your target files appear.

Step 5: Preview recoverable files by clicking on them. Disk Drill supports preview for most common file types including photos, videos, documents, and archives.

Step 6: Select the files you want to recover and choose a destination on a different drive. Click “Recover” to extract them.

Disk Drill preserves filenames and folder structures when the file system allows it. Several forum users report strong success rates with Disk Drill’s deep scan on drives where other tools found nothing.

Method 4: Recover RAW Drive Data Using DiskGenius (Paid, Free Preview)

DiskGenius is another powerful commercial tool that offers a unique feature called “Load Current Partition Intelligently.” This feature attempts to read the RAW partition directly using its own file system driver, bypassing Windows entirely.

If this feature works, you can browse the RAW partition in the DiskGenius interface just like a normal drive, see all your files with original names and folders, and copy them to a safe location without a full scan.

Step 1: Download and install DiskGenius Free Edition.

Step 2: Launch the program and locate your RAW partition in the left panel. It will likely show with a red “Damaged” or “RAW” indicator.

Step 3: Right-click the RAW partition and select “Load Current Partition Intelligently.” If the underlying file system is only mildly corrupted, this will immediately display your files and folders.

Step 4: If intelligent loading fails, select “File Recovery” instead to run a full scan. DiskGenius offers three modes: Recover Deleted Files, Complete Recovery, and Search For Known File Type (data carving).

Step 5: Preview files by double-clicking them in the results view.

Step 6: Copy recovered files to a different drive. The free edition allows you to copy up to a certain amount of data. For larger recoveries, a Pro license is needed.

DiskGenius also includes a Sector Editor for advanced users who want to manually inspect and repair hex data in the boot sector or MFT. This is a powerful but technical feature that goes beyond what most users need.

Method 5: Recover RAW Drive Using CHKDSK Alternative (CMD/Diskpart)

While CHKDSK doesn’t work on RAW drives, there is a read-only approach using the Windows command line that can sometimes restore access without third-party tools. This works in specific cases where the corruption is minor.

Important: This method involves no write operations to the RAW drive itself, making it safe to attempt.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 2: Type “diskpart” and press Enter.

Step 3: Type “list volume” to see all volumes including the RAW one. Note the volume number.

Step 4: Type “select volume X” (where X is your RAW volume number).

Step 5: Type “chkdsk X: /f” where X is the drive letter. In many cases this will fail with “The type of the file system is RAW.” But in some borderline cases, it may actually begin repairing minor inconsistencies.

If CHKDSK fails (which is common for true RAW drives), move on to one of the dedicated recovery tools above. Do not attempt to force a format through Diskpart to try to fix the RAW state, as this will erase your data.

Free vs Paid RAW Drive Recovery Tools: Which Should You Choose?

One of the most common questions I see in forums is whether free tools are good enough or if you need to pay for recovery software. The answer depends on your situation and the value of the data you’re trying to recover.

Free Recovery Tools

TestDisk is the gold standard for free partition recovery. It repairs partition tables and can restore RAW partitions entirely. Best for situations where the partition table or MBR is corrupted but the file system within the partition is intact.

PhotoRec is the best free file carving tool. It recovers individual files from severely damaged drives without relying on file system structures. Best for desperate situations where the file system is completely destroyed, but you lose filenames and folder organization.

Recuva is a user-friendly free option from the makers of CCleaner. It has a simple wizard interface and is good for recovering recently deleted files from drives that are still mostly functional. Less effective for true RAW drives compared to TestDisk or PhotoRec.

Paid Recovery Tools

Disk Drill offers the best balance of ease of use and recovery power. The deep scan is thorough, the preview feature is excellent, and it supports all major file systems. Best for users who want a straightforward, guided recovery experience.

DiskGenius provides advanced features like intelligent partition loading and sector-level editing. Best for technically inclined users who want maximum control over the recovery process.

EaseUS Data Recovery is another popular commercial option with a clean interface and strong recovery rates. Best for users familiar with the EaseUS ecosystem.

UFS Explorer is a professional-grade tool that supports complex configurations including RAID arrays and NAS devices. Best for advanced scenarios like recovering from a RAW RAID volume.

When Free Is Enough

Start with TestDisk. If it finds and restores your partition, you’re done at zero cost. If TestDisk doesn’t work, try PhotoRec for file extraction. Both are completely free with no limitations.

When Paid Makes Sense

If free tools fail or you need filenames and folder structures preserved (which PhotoRec can’t do on a severely corrupted drive), a paid tool like Disk Drill or DiskGenius is worth the investment. Paid tools also offer better file preview capabilities, letting you verify recovery success before committing.

If the data is critically important (years of family photos, business documents, irreplaceable files), don’t hesitate to invest in a paid tool. The peace of mind and higher recovery success rates are worth it.

What Affects RAW Drive Recovery Success Rates?

No competitor covers this topic, and it’s something every person with a RAW drive desperately wants to know. Will the recovery actually work?

Based on my experience and forum reports, here are the factors that determine your recovery success rate.

The Cause of the RAW State Matters

Partition table corruption (fixable by TestDisk) has the highest recovery rate, often close to 100%. The data is completely intact; only the roadmap is damaged.

File system metadata corruption has a high recovery rate, typically 80-95%. Files can be recovered using data carving or intelligent partition loading, though some filenames may be lost.

Bad sectors reduce recovery rates depending on how many sectors are affected and which structures they overlap with. Recovery software can skip unreadable sectors, but files stored in those sectors may be partially or fully lost.

Physical damage has the lowest recovery rate for DIY methods. If the drive has mechanical issues, recovery software may not be able to read the disk at all. Professional recovery services can achieve higher rates using cleanroom techniques, but costs can be significant.

Time Is a Factor

The longer you wait to attempt recovery, and the more you use the drive, the lower your success rate. If the drive is actively failing (developing more bad sectors), time is working against you. Attempt recovery as soon as possible.

SSD vs HDD Recovery Differences

Traditional HDDs (hard disk drives) generally have higher DIY recovery success rates because the data persists on magnetic platters even after deletion. The sectors don’t change state until overwritten.

SSDs (solid state drives) are more complex due to TRIM commands and wear leveling. When an SSD receives a TRIM command, it marks those blocks as available for garbage collection, which eventually erases them. This can make deleted file recovery harder on SSDs compared to HDDs.

However, if the SSD went RAW due to file system corruption (not deletion), the data should still be recoverable. The TRIM issue primarily affects recovery of files that were deleted before the RAW state occurred.

When to Seek Professional Data Recovery Help

DIY recovery software works for most logical RAW drive scenarios. But there are situations where you should skip the software and go straight to a professional data recovery service.

Clicking, grinding, or beeping sounds from the drive indicate mechanical failure. Running software on a mechanically failing drive can cause the read/write heads to scratch the platters, destroying data permanently. Power off immediately.

The drive is not detected at all by the computer, not even in Disk Management. This suggests a controller failure or firmware issue that requires specialized hardware to address.

Burning smell or visible damage to the drive circuitry. Do not attempt to power on the drive.

The drive was exposed to water, fire, or physical trauma. Professional cleanroom recovery is your only realistic option.

You’ve already tried multiple recovery tools with no success. If TestDisk, PhotoRec, Disk Drill, and DiskGenius all failed to find your files, a professional service may have specialized tools and techniques that go beyond consumer software.

Professional data recovery typically costs between $200 and $2,000 depending on the severity of the damage and the service level you choose. For irreplaceable data, this can be a worthwhile investment.

How to Fix a RAW Drive After Recovering Your Files

Once you’ve successfully recovered all your important files to a separate drive, you can proceed to fix the RAW partition itself. At this point, formatting is safe because your data is already backed up elsewhere.

Here’s how to convert the RAW partition back to a usable state.

Method 1: Format Using Disk Management

This is the easiest method for most users.

Step 1: Open Disk Management by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Disk Management.”

Step 2: Locate your RAW partition. It will show with a black bar if it’s now unallocated, or it may show the RAW label.

Step 3: Right-click the RAW partition and select “Format.”

Step 4: Choose your file system. For drives used only on Windows, select NTFS. For drives that need cross-platform compatibility (Mac and PC), select exFAT. For small USB drives (32GB or less), FAT32 is an option.

Step 5: Set the allocation unit size to “Default” and give the volume a label if you want.

Step 6: Make sure “Perform a quick format” is checked and click OK.

The format should complete in seconds. Your drive is now usable again.

Method 2: Format Using Diskpart (CMD)

If Disk Management won’t let you format the drive, use the Diskpart command-line tool.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 2: Type “diskpart” and press Enter.

Step 3: Type “list disk” to see all disks. Note the disk number of your RAW drive.

Step 4: Type “select disk X” (replace X with your disk number).

Step 5: Type “clean” to remove all partition information. This wipes the disk entirely.

Step 6: Type “create partition primary” to create a new partition.

Step 7: Type “format fs=ntfs quick” to format as NTFS. Use “fs=exfat” for exFAT or “fs=fat32” for FAT32.

Step 8: Type “assign” to give the drive a letter.

Step 9: Type “exit” to close Diskpart.

Your drive should now appear in File Explorer with the new file system and be ready for use.

When Formatting Doesn’t Fix the RAW State

If the drive keeps going back to RAW after formatting, this usually indicates a hardware problem. The disk may have too many bad sectors, or the controller may be failing. At this point, the drive is not trustworthy for storing important data. Replace it.

You can run a diagnostic tool like CrystalDiskInfo (free) to check the SMART health data of the drive. If SMART reports warnings or bad health, retire the drive.

How to Prevent Drives From Going RAW in the Future

After going through the stress of RAW drive recovery, you’ll want to prevent it from happening again. Here are the habits and safeguards that keep your drives healthy.

Always Eject Drives Safely

For external drives, USB flash drives, and SD cards, always use the “Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media” option before unplugging. This ensures all pending write operations are completed and the file system is left in a consistent state.

Even if Windows has “Quick Removal” enabled by default, safe ejection is still the best practice. Forum users consistently report that improper ejection is the top cause of RAW external drives.

Use a UPS for Desktop Computers

A sudden power loss during a write operation is one of the most common causes of RAW drives on desktop PCs. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides battery backup during outages, giving you time to save your work and shut down properly.

Monitor Drive Health Regularly

Install a free SMART monitoring tool like CrystalDiskInfo and check it periodically. If the tool reports reallocated sectors, pending sectors, or declining health, back up your data and replace the drive before it fails.

Catching a failing drive early means you can copy your data normally, avoiding the entire RAW recovery nightmare.

Maintain Proper Backups

The single best defense against RAW drive data loss is having a backup. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: keep three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored off-site or in the cloud.

If you have a proper backup, a RAW drive becomes an inconvenience rather than a disaster. You can simply format the drive and restore your files from backup.

Keep Your System Protected From Malware

Use reputable antivirus software and keep it updated. Some malware specifically targets file system structures, and a good security suite can prevent infections that lead to RAW partitions.

Be cautious with partition management tools. Only use trusted software for tasks like resizing partitions or changing file systems, and always back up before making structural changes.

FAQ’s

Conclusion: Your Data Is Likely Still Recoverable

Dealing with a RAW drive is stressful, but the most important takeaway from this guide is that your files are probably still there. RAW means the file system metadata is damaged, not that your data has been erased. With the right tools and a careful approach, most RAW drives can be recovered successfully.

Here’s the quick summary of how to recover files from a drive that shows as RAW: stop using the drive immediately, do not format or run CHKDSK, install recovery software on a different drive, scan the RAW drive, preview and recover your files to a separate healthy drive, and only then format the RAW partition to make it usable again.

Start with the free tools. TestDisk can repair partition tables at no cost. PhotoRec can extract files from even the most damaged drives. If those don’t work, invest in Disk Drill or DiskGenius for their deep scan and file preview capabilities. And if the drive is making unusual sounds or not being detected at all, consult a professional data recovery service.

Once your data is safe, take steps to prevent this from happening again. Eject drives safely, use a UPS, monitor your drive health with SMART tools, and most importantly, maintain proper backups. A good backup means a RAW drive is just a minor inconvenience, not a catastrophe.