What does Kingston USB flash drive RAW mean?

It means your Kingston USB’s file system is corrupted, and Windows cannot read it. The drive becomes RAW and inaccessible.

Can I fix Kingston USB RAW without formatting?

Yes. Use iCare Recovery Free to extract your files first, then format the drive safely.

Is it safe to use iCare Recovery Free?

Yes, iCare Recovery Free is safe and widely used for RAW USB recovery.

Why does my Kingston USB keep turning RAW?

RAW errors usually indicate bad sectors, corruption, or physical drive failure. Backup data and consider replacing the drive.

Kingston USB Flash Drive RAW – How to Fix and Recover Data

Quick Answer: A Kingston USB flash drive raw error occurs when the file system becomes corrupted or unreadable. You can recover data with iCare Recovery Free before formatting to NTFS/FAT32.

Experiencing a RAW file system on your Kingston USB drive can be stressful. If your drive is inaccessible, this guide shows how to recover your files and restore functionality safely.

🔹 Understand Why Kingston USB Turns RAW

A RAW file system occurs when the drive's file system is missing, damaged, or unreadable. Common causes:

❌ Improper removal of the USB drive
🦠 Virus or malware attacks
⚡ Power failures during use
💽 Format failures
🔧 Bad sectors or physical damage

The following parts share recovering data from RAW Kingston USB if needed, and then fix the USB to work like normal plus some tips.

🔹 Recover RAW Kingston USB Drive without Formatting

Fix the raw Kingston usb without formatting? Recovering the data first tops the solutions. Use iCare Recovery Free to restore inaccessible data (images, videos, documents, emails, etc.) in 3 steps:

📥 Step 1:Downloadd & install iCare Data Recovery Free. Insert your Kingston USB and select a scan mode RAW DRIVE RECOVERY.
🔍 Step 2: Choose the RAW drive and let the software scan for lost files.
💾 Step 3: Preview found files and save them to another drive.

🔹 Convert/Format RAW Kingston USB to FAT32/NTFS

After recovery, format the RAW Kingston USB using Disk Management or a RAW formatter to restore access:

🛠 Right-click Start → Disk Management → Select RAW drive → Format → Choose NTFS or FAT32
💻 Try Kingston USB Format Utility or Linux for additional recovery options

See how the RAW formatter works in this video:

Download Kingston USB Recovery Tool Free

Also read: 8 ways to format usb, or how to fix raw flash drive

🔹 Fixing the Drive

Using Disk Management

The RAW file system occurs when the Kingston USB’s file allocation table (FAT) or NTFS metadata is missing, corrupted, or unreadable by Windows. Disk Management works by rewriting the file system structure on the drive while keeping the physical sectors intact. This method essentially:

🛠 Scans the drive for logical partitions and marks the RAW partition for reformatting.
💾 Creates a new file system (NTFS or exFAT) by reconstructing the necessary file tables and metadata.
📂 Enables Windows to recognize the drive again without requiring hardware changes.

Right-click Start → Disk Management.
Locate your Kingston USB drive.
Right-click the RAW partition → Format.
Choose NTFS or exFAT and complete the process.

💡 Technical Insight: Formatting does not physically erase the data unless a low level zero-fill format is performed. The partition’s file system is rewritten, allowing Windows to interpret previously RAW sectors correctly.

Using Command Prompt (CHKDSK)

CHKDSK (Check Disk) repairs file system inconsistencies by scanning for logical errors in the FAT or NTFS tables. On a Kingston USB showing RAW, CHKDSK can sometimes restore access because:

🔍 It detects and repairs minor file allocation table (FAT) or master file table (MFT) corruption.
🧩 It reallocates bad sectors and marks them unusable without impacting healthy sectors.
⚡ Fixes cross-linked or orphaned files that may prevent the OS from reading the partition.

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Type chkdsk <drive_letter>: /f /x and press Enter.
This can fix minor file system corruption and potentially recover the RAW drive to a readable state.

⚠️ When CHKDSK Won’t Work on RAW USB Drives

While CHKDSK is a powerful tool for repairing minor file system errors, there are cases where it cannot fix a RAW USB flash drive:

❌ Severely Corrupted File System: If the FAT or NTFS metadata is completely missing or overwritten, CHKDSK cannot reconstruct the file allocation tables or master file table.
💾 Physical Damage or Bad Sectors: USB flash drives with hardware-level failures or excessive bad sectors may show as RAW. CHKDSK cannot repair physical defects; it only handles logical file system errors.
🔒 Unsupported or Unknown File System: If the USB has a non-Windows file system or partially formatted sectors, CHKDSK may refuse to run or report that the volume is RAW.
⚡ Improper Removal or Power Failure Corruption: Sometimes, sudden ejection or write interruptions create inconsistencies that CHKDSK cannot resolve because the underlying allocation tables are fragmented beyond repair.
🛠 Encrypted or Protected Data: RAW partitions that were previously encrypted or protected with software (e.g., BitLocker) cannot be repaired by CHKDSK without decryption first.

💡 Tip: In these cases, using a professional data recovery tool like iCare Recovery Free is recommended to safely recover data before attempting formatting or further repair.

🔹 Other Solutions

🔄 Update USB drivers: Ensures that the Kingston USB controller communicates properly with Windows, reducing misread errors that can present as RAW.
🛠 Kingston USB Format Utility: This specialized utility is designed to write compatible file system metadata specifically for Kingston drives, which can sometimes fix RAW issues that generic formatting does not.
💻 Try a different OS like Linux: Linux can read drives that Windows cannot by using more flexible file system drivers (e.g., reading RAW sectors directly). This allows you to recover data or reformat the drive at a lower level.

💡 Technical Note: RAW errors are often caused by metadata corruption, not physical damage. Rewriting the file system or repairing allocation tables restores logical access without replacing the hardware.

🔹 FAQs – Kingston USB RAW Issues

"My Kingston USB flash drive is RAW. Windows asks to format. How can I recover data first?"

"I want to convert my 4GB Kingston USB from RAW to FAT32 and recover inaccessible files."

"Can I recover deleted files using CMD when the USB is RAW?"

Use iCare Recovery Free to restore data, then format to FAT32/NTFS. Learn how to convert RAW to FAT32.

🔹 Bottom Line

A "RAW file system" on a Kingston USB drive means the computer cannot recognize its file system, usually due to corruption or damage. To fix this, first try to recover your data using professional recovery software if the data is critical, as formatting the drive will erase everything. If data recovery isn't needed, you can fix a RAW Kingston USB by formatting it using Disk Management to convert it to a recognizable format like NTFS or exFAT, or by using the CHKDSK command in Command Prompt to repair minor file system errors.

iCare Recovery Free supports RAW Kingston USB recovery on Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, and Vista. Recover your files safely, then fix RAW errors by formatting or using CHKDSK. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives >>

Last updated on Aug 22, 2025

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