Buffalo MiniStation external hard drives are widely used for personal and business data storage. However, if a drive is improperly ejected, it can lead to file system corruption, causing the drive to appear as RAW instead of NTFS or exFAT. When this happens, users lose access to their files, and attempting to fix the issue using formatting or built-in repair tools can lead to permanent data loss.
This case study details how we successfully recovered personal data from a Buffalo MiniStation external hard drive that became RAW after being disconnected improperly.
As Ireland’s oldest and most experienced data recovery company, we applied file system reconstruction and sector-level imaging techniques to restore the lost files.
The Challenge: Buffalo MiniStation External Hard Drive Appears as RAW
A client contacted us after their Buffalo MiniStation external hard drive became unreadable. The reported issues included:
- Drive recognized by Windows/macOS but appearing as RAW instead of NTFS/exFAT.
- Error messages such as “You need to format this drive before you can use it.”
- Disk Management showing an unallocated or RAW partition.
- The client’s personal documents, photos, and videos were completely inaccessible.
Since RAW file system issues prevent normal file access, a professional data recovery approach was required to avoid further damage.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Buffalo MiniStation hard drive arrived at our cleanroom facility, we performed a full diagnostic analysis. Our findings:
- File system corruption – The partition table and Master File Table (MFT) were damaged due to an improper ejection.
- Bad sectors – The drive contained some bad sectors in critical metadata areas, preventing normal access.
- No physical damage – The hard drive’s hardware was in good condition, meaning data recovery was highly possible.
Since RAW file system errors are often repairable without formatting, we focused on non-destructive recovery techniques.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning the Drive to Prevent Further Data Corruption
To ensure safe data retrieval, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector image of the RAW drive to prevent further corruption.
- Used advanced imaging tools to bypass unreadable sectors.
2. Rebuilding the Corrupt File System
Since the drive’s MFT was damaged, we:
- Repaired the partition table without modifying user data.
- Rebuilt the NTFS file system metadata, restoring file directory structures.
- Extracted missing or corrupted files using deep data scanning tools.
3. Verifying & Restoring Personal Data
Once file recovery was completed, we:
- Verified the integrity of recovered documents, photos, and videos.
- Ensured no missing or corrupted data.
- Transferred the restored files to a new external hard drive for the client.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our file system repair and data extraction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the client’s personal files, including:
✅ Family photos and home videos
✅ Personal documents and important records
✅ Digital backups of important emails and archives
The client was relieved to have all their data restored without requiring formatting or data loss.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading external hard drive recovery specialists in Ireland and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ RAW file system recovery (NTFS, exFAT, FAT32)
✔ Partition table repair & MFT reconstruction
✔ Buffalo MiniStation and all external drive brands supported
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval for personal and business users
If your external hard drive is showing as RAW, unreadable, or prompting for formatting, stop using it immediately and contact us for professional data recovery.