Fixing a drive that is now detected as RAW in Windows with TestDisk

I may have had a USB issue with my external hard drive I ended up with the issue where the drive is now detected as RAW and unable to be detected by Windows - it gives both the "Parameter is missing" error and asks me to format.
PhotoRec is able to recover files, so at the very least I know the files are still there, but I'd really like to be able to recover the disk entirely to be able to get the files out in the original context and I've read from my searches that TestDisk might be able to do that for me. However, after trying to follow some instructions and posts online I'm kind of stuck.

After analyzing the drive, when I try to view the files I get this error:




I've seen from other instructions that using the Advanced menu options to try to recover the Boot Sector is the next step, but Test Disk doesn't give me that option (it does on other drives that I know are working).




Is my next step to try a Deep Scan? Or is there something I'm missing? Or is the boot sector to make it recognized as NTFS not recoverable and I should use PhotoRec or some other software (any recommendations) to just pull the files off the partition and format the drive?
Thanks!

Note - This is what DiskPart shows:



And here is the link to my TestDisk log file if that may be useful: Fri Feb 5 00:00:08 2021Command line: TestDiskTestDisk 7.2-WIP, Data R - Pastebin.com

Please run:


DiskParInfo.bat - Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.




For the problematic disk drive display results for:

Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan


Run Sea Tools for Windows
long generic test
Post an image of the test result into the thread
SeaTools for Windows |
Seagate
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US


The Full Error Scan and long generic tests can take significant time so run overnight.

Thanks everyone for the replies - I'll try to run the diagnostic utilities later to check on the health of the drives and report back.

jumanji said:

"Is my next step to try a Deep Scan? Or is there something I'm missing?"

Hi @firehawk12,

You are on the right track. No Deep Scan. For further progress from that screenshot you posted, follow the screenshots here
How to repair a damaged partition on a data drive?

It is the same link referred to by @thomaseg1 in his post #3 in this thread. Thanks to him.

If at any point you have a doubt in running TestDisk and require clarification post the screenshot and quit TestDisk.

Note: For clarity, post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management. If you have MiniTool Partition Wizard installed, also post a screenshot of how the disks look in it.

I did have a chance to try the end steps from the thread here.

At first I got this displayed:

1. Boot sector - Bad
Backup boot sector - OK
Execute the [Backup BS] command ( writes the backup to the start sector of the partitïon when you confirm "y" in the next screen)

So I used Backup BS and afterwards it displayed this output:

Boot sector
Status: OK
Backup boot sector
Status: OK
Sectors are identical.

A valid NTFS Boot sector must be present in order to access
any data; even if the partition is not bootable.

I was still unable to view contents in TestDisk or Windows, so I went back to your post and saw this option:

The fourth possibility and an important one:
Boot Sector - OK
Backup Boot sector - OK
Hmmm... both are good. Then what is the problem? MFT???
You will execute [Repair MFT] command.

However, when I try the Repair MFT command it gave me an error:

MFT and MFT mirror are bad. Failed to repair them.

From your post, it says that if the MFT cannot be repaired, that means that I will likely have to use a third party recovery tool to copy the files out of the drive? If that is the case, do which would you recommend?

Also here is my Windows Dis Management screenshot:



Thank you for your assisstance.

When posting disk management make sure that all columns are widened:
Open disk management > by default some columns are compressed > widen each Status and Volume > make sure the contents within the parenthesis are in full view and that none of the characters are cutoff > view disk 0 > widen this row as needed so that all of the characters are in full view > post an image into the thread
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of
(make sure all disks are in view)



Download and install Minitool Partition Wizard > click launch > post an image of the results into this thread
MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download
MiniTool Portable Partition Magic Brings Easier Disk Management



Please run:


DiskParInfo.bat - Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.

firehawk12 said:

.....From your post, it says that if the MFT cannot be repaired, that means that I will likely have to use a third party recovery tool to copy the files out of the drive? If that is the case, do which would you recommend?

Christophe Grenier, the author of TestDisk says thus:"If both MFT and MFTMirr are damaged and thus cannot be repaired using TestDisk, you might want to try commercial software like Zero Assumption Recovery, GetDataBack for NTFS".

Here at Seven Forums and Ten Forums we have been recommending GetDataback Pro (USD79) and ( thanks to SIW2) Active@ File Recovery (USD29).
GetDataBack Pro: Data Recovery - Data Recovery Software - RAID Recovery - NAS Data Recovery
Active@ File Recovery: Find and Restore Lost Files: Undelete deleted files and recover damaged disks

Both are 'Try before you buy". You can run the trial/demo versions and if these show your folders and files in their original folder/file structure, you can open/preview to check their integrity and if satisfied you need to buy the license to copy those. (Some OPs were happy with Active@ File Recovery , some preferred GetDataBack in spite of it costing USD80. Both are proven)

You had mentioned that you had already used PhotoRec and recovered most data but those will only be a bunch of files without the original folder/file structure and original file names. If you can recreate the original folder/file structure and original file names , well and good and you need not buy the commercial software.

If you are intent to recover all data with their original structure intact, then you can try both and buy a license. It is upto you .

Have a good night.

jumanji said:

Christophe Grenier, the author of TestDisk says thus:"If both MFT and MFTMirr are damaged and thus cannot be repaired using TestDisk, you might want to try commercial software like Zero Assumption Recovery, GetDataBack for NTFS".

Here at Seven Forums and Ten Forums we have been recommending GetDataback Pro (USD79) and ( thanks to SIW2) Active@ File Recovery (USD29).
GetDataBack Pro: Data Recovery - Data Recovery Software - RAID Recovery - NAS Data Recovery
Active@ File Recovery: Find and Restore Lost Files: Undelete deleted files and recover damaged disks

Both are 'Try before you buy". You can run the trial/demo versions and if these show your folders and files in their original folder/file structure, you can open/preview to check their integrity and if satisfied you need to buy the license to copy those. (Some OPs were happy with Active@ File Recovery , some preferred GetDataBack in spite of it costing USD80. Both are proven)

You had mentioned that you had already used PhotoRec and recovered most data but those will only be a bunch of files without the original folder/file structure and original file names. If you can recreate the original folder/file structure and original file names , well and good and you need not buy the commercial software.

If you are intent to recover all data with their original structure intact, then you can try both and buy a license. It is upto you .

Have a good night.

Thank you for your help. Yes, I'd rather have the original file names/folder structure so I'm more than willing to try these software. Thank you for the recommendations.