Fix Error: Volume Does Not Contain a Recognized File System and Recover Files

Written By Mansi Verma
Updated on 4 Nov, 2024
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Summary: In this blog, you will learn the best ways to fix ‘Volume does not contain a recognized file system’ error message. This error makes your drive inaccessible, due to which, you may not be able to access or read data stored on the drive. In such a case, you may use a data recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional to get back your data immediately.

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You recently updated to Windows 10 and tried to connect your hard disk to the system. But an error message appears, saying ‘you need to format the disk in drive before you can use it.’ (See Image 1) The drive has some important files stored on it. When you check into the device manager and try to open the device, you face the same error. But when you cancel it, the box shows this error ‘:\ (Drive) is not accessible. The volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.’ (See Image 2)

you-need-to-format-the-drive — *Image 1: You need to format the drive error*

the-volume-does-not-contain-a-file-system — *Image 2: The volume does not contain a recognized file system error*

Whether the error occurs in an internal drive or an external storage drive, you may lose access to your data stored on the drive. Therefore, it’s important to keep a backup of your critical data at all times. In case of data loss, try a professional data recovery tool to recover your important files. And, in order to o fix this error ‘Volume does not contain a recognized file system’, follow the given methods .

Causes for ‘Volume does not contain a recognized file system’ Error

This error message may occur on an internal or external drive. The causes for this error are given as follows:

Corrupt or faulty drive
Bad Sectors on the drive
File system corruption
Corrupt system files
Drive turned Raw

Methods to fix ‘Volume does not contain a recognized file system’

Method 1: Run SFC (System File Checker) Command

System file checker (SFC) is a Windows built-in troubleshooting utility. Using this utility, you may scan and fix corruption in system files. Try out this method to get rid of the error with the help of the following steps:

a. Type cmd in Windows search box to open Command Prompt and click Run as administrator. (See Image 3)

run-command-prompt-as-an-administrator — *Image 3: Run Command Prompt as an administrator*

b. Type SFC/Scannow command and hit Enter. (See Image 4)

run-sfc/scannnow-command — *Image 4: Run SFC/Scannow Command*

c. This command scans all the corrupted system files and replaces them with a cached copy, which is located in a zip/compressed folder at Windows operating system folder (%WinDir%\System32\dllcache).

d. Wait until the process is completed and type Exit to close the Command Prompt.

e. Restart the system to see if the error ‘Value does not contain a recognized file system’ has been fixed.

Method 2: Scan Drive for Errors

If there is any corruption with your drive, you can check and scan the drive for fixing it. You need to connect your drive to the system and perform the following steps:

a. Open File Explorer and go to This PC.

b. Right-click on the drive with which you are encountering the error and click Properties. (See Image 5)

right-click-on-the-device-and-properties — *Image 5: Right-click on the device and click Properties*

c. Go to Tools, and click Check. (See Image 6)

Click-check-under-tools-tab — *Image 6: Click Check under Tools tab*

d. After that, you will be prompted with a dialog box. Click Scan drive. (See Image 7)

e. This helps Windows to check any errors or corruption with the drive. Once done, close the window and go back to This PC to check if you can access your drive now.

Method 3: Run CHKDSK Command

CHKDSK Command utility helps in finding and fixing the drive corruption. It also helps in marking down bad sectors on the drive. You may use this utility to fix the error using the following steps:

a. Open Command prompt, run it as an administrator and type chkdsk f: f (where f: is the drive letter) and hit Enter. (See Image 8)

run chkdsk command — *Image 8: Run CHKDSK command*

Lost data after using CHKDSK Command. What to do? Can I still get back my data?

CHKDSK command scans the drive, finds, and marks down the bad sectors on the drive, due to which, Windows will not store or read the data. In this situation, you will end up losing the data stored on the drive.

You can still recover it with a data recovery tool such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional. With the help of this easy-to-use, DIY software, you can extract any kind of data from Windows PCs and devices like HDDs, SSDs, external USB drives & optical media. It supports data recovery even from NTFS, exFAT, and FAT (FAT16/FAT32) formatted drives. The data can also be retrieved from completely crashed & unbootable systems.

Watch this video to Recover Lost Data:

Method 4: Fix the Drive with Unrecognized File System

If you get this error, open Disk Management and see if the disk is shown as Unallocated. Try to fix it with the following steps:

a. Right-click on the Unallocated drive, and click New Simple Volume. (See Image 9)

create-new-simple-volume — *Image 9: Create New Simple Volume*

b. On the next prompt, click Next > Next and then specify the volume size. (See Image 10)

specify-the-drive-volume-size — *Image 10: specify the drive volume size*

c. On the next wizard, click ‘Assign the following drive letter’, give a letter to the drive, and click Next. (See Image 11)

assign a Drive Letter — *Image 11: Assign a drive letter*

d. On the next prompt, click ‘Format this volume with the following settings’.

e. Against file system, select NTFS, and click Next to proceed. (See Image 12)

Format Setting with multiple file systems — *Image 12: Assign a file system to the drive*

f. Click Finish. Restart the system and see if the issue has been fixed.

On the other hand, if you choose to click “Do not format this volume” (See Image 13) to fix this error without any data loss, the drive will turn RAW. Don’t worry! Raw recovery is easy with stellar data recovery professional software.

Note: This method requires you to format the drive, which means you will end up losing all the important data on it.

Wrapping Up

Usually, the error ‘Volume does not contain a recognized file system’ occurs when an internal or an external drive is occupied with corrupt system files, bad sectors, unallocated space, or a drive has turned RAW. You can get rid of the error with the help of the methods explained in this blog such as, running SFC command to check and fix system file corruption, scanning drives for errors, solving error with CHKDSK command, or formatting the drive.

These methods may prove to be very helpful in getting rid of this error and make your drive accessible again. However, you may lose the important data stored on the drive while attempting to fix the error with methods like CHKDSK command or fixing the RAW drive. In such a condition, using professional data recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional is the way to go! This easy-to-use yet powerful software enables you to get back your data effectively from Windows PCs or removable disks/drives like HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, etc.

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About The Author

Mansi Verma

Mansi is a seasoned tech enthusiast, holding over a decade of experience in writing blogs, articles, guides, press releases, and tips for different industries, including Data Recovery, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics.

16 comments

Siggi says:

October 28, 2023 at 7:35 am

All your above procedure instructions I followed and it worked 100% for me, have all my Data back.
thank you guys

Reply
1. Satyeshu Kumar says:
  
  October 31, 2023 at 3:54 am
  
  Hi Siggi,
  I’m thrilled to hear that the instructions were helpful and that you were able to retrieve all of your data successfully. It’s always rewarding to know that I was able to assist. If you have any more questions or need further help in the future, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your kind words!”
  
  Reply
Daryl Dixon says:

September 26, 2023 at 12:52 pm

This article was a lifesaver! I recently encountered the “volume does not contain a recognized file system” error on my external hard drive, and I was on the verge of panic. Your step-by-step guide was incredibly helpful in understanding the root of the problem and finding a solution. It’s evident that such technical issues require a deep understanding, and I appreciate the clarity with which you’ve presented the information. On a side note, I’m working on a research paper about data recovery techniques, and your insights have been invaluable. I’ve been thinking about getting some assistance with the paper. Do you think using a website that specializes in research paper writing might be a good idea? Any recommendations?
https://codinghomeworkhelp.org/computer-science-assignment-help.html

Reply
1. Satyeshu Kumar says:
  
  September 28, 2023 at 5:08 am
  
  Hi Daryl,
  I’m glad to hear that the article was helpful in resolving your ‘volume does not contain a recognized file system’ error on your external hard drive. Technical issues like these can indeed be frustrating, but having clear step-by-step guidance can make a significant difference.
  Certainly! Seeking assistance from a reputable website specializing in research paper writing can be a valuable resource, especially when tackling complex topics like data recovery techniques. Your positive experience with the article’s clarity underscores the importance of having well-structured and informative content. When choosing a service, prioritize quality, credibility, and expertise in the field. Ensure the writers have knowledge in computer science and data recovery, guaranteeing that your paper is technically accurate. Originality, customization, timeliness, and the availability of revisions are vital factors to consider.
  
  Reply
Kumar says:

June 3, 2023 at 8:57 am

I tried all the methods but no luck, team guide me in any other was i can recover my data.

Reply
1. Mansi Verma says:
  
  June 5, 2023 at 3:27 am
  
  Hi Kumar,
  It would be great if you could tell us exactly what problem you are experiencing so that we can assist you.
  The error ‘Volume does not contain a recognized file system’ happens when an internal or external drive is occupied by faulty system files, defective sectors, unallocated space, or a disc has turned RAW. You can resolve the error by following the steps outlined in this blog; if that doesn’t work, try software once. The software can assist you in recovering your data.
  Here’s a link to the same: https://www.stellarinfo.com/windows-data-recovery-professional.php
  
  Reply
pause your life says:

May 20, 2023 at 12:41 pm

you are the best, just save me 2 days of work.

Reply
1. Mansi Verma says:
  
  May 22, 2023 at 5:07 am
  
  Hi,
  Its glad to know that your issue has been resolved. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We appreciate your efforts and look forward to serving you in the future.
  
  Reply
Victoria says:

March 3, 2023 at 4:22 pm

Hi I’ve tried all of the above and nothing seems to work, I bought the memory card back in November from tesco then by 28th December it completely stopped working, I haven’t damaged it or anything like that. I’ve done loads of research and it says I have a corrupt file/files. It says to format everything I plug it into laptop but I’m afraid that I’ll loose all my photos and videos so I haven’t done that, it says file system – RAW. nland it says it can’t access the volume on my sd card. I’d love to be able to fix the problem and recover my files, there all of my 2 kids the past 7 years :(. I can’t afford to pay over £200 to get this fixed please help xxx

Reply
brian karmo says:

October 14, 2022 at 12:09 pm

Thank you for the chkdsk fix command worked so good, God Bless…

Reply
yalda says:

September 1, 2022 at 5:16 pm

thanks a lot, you really saved me

Reply
eddie says:

June 19, 2022 at 8:43 am

thanx man !!!! you’re great!!!

Reply
Jay says:

February 26, 2022 at 3:20 am

thanks a lot, it was really helpful 🙂

Reply
Nathan Ricker says:

January 27, 2022 at 8:52 am

I do not know about this, today I found out through your post. Thank you very much to the writer for sharing methods with detailed analysis and step-by-step instructions.

Reply