Windows cannot read FAT32 drive even with OK sectors

Using TestDisk to repair the filesystem
Forum rules
When asking for technical support:
- Search for posts on the same topic before posting a new question.
- Give clear, specific information in the title of your post.
- Include as many details as you can, MOST POSTS WILL GET ONLY ONE OR TWO ANSWERS.
- Post a follow up with a "Thank you" or "This worked!"
- When you learn something, use that knowledge to HELP ANOTHER USER LATER.
Before posting, please read https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk.pdf
Locked
Message
Author
markk1
Posts: 3
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 12:06

Windows cannot read FAT32 drive even with OK sectors

#1 Post by markk1 »

Hi all,

I have a FAT32 external hard drive and it cannot be read by Windows. I have ran analyse and quick search, followed by deeper search and wrote those partition structures to disk once I was satisfied that the partition was found. Once this was completed I went into analyse again and press "P" on the partition to list the files, and all the files list OK. However the drive still cannot be recognized by Windows and is still considered "RAW". I read that I should then go into the advanced menu, followed by boot and the following details are provided from this screen:

Boot sector
OK
Backup boot sector
OK
Sectors are identical.

A valid FAT Boot sector must be present in order to access any data; even if the partition is not bootable.
(See attachment for full details)

At this point, what should I do to make this drive recognizable by Windows? When I highlight Repair Fat it indicates that it is dangerous to do so, should I proceed with this option? Or should I do Rebuild BS? or something entirely different.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Mark
Attachments
3.2.2016Testdisk.PNG
3.2.2016Testdisk.PNG (27.87 KiB) Viewed 2534 times

User avatar
cgrenier
Site Admin
Posts: 5432
Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
Contact:

Re: Windows cannot read FAT32 drive even with OK sectors

#2 Post by cgrenier »

You can
- copy the files using TestDisk, Advanced, List
- or run "cmd" (right click run a administrator), "chkdsk /f d:" (replace d: by the correct drive letter)

markk1
Posts: 3
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 12:06

Re: Windows cannot read FAT32 drive even with OK sectors

#3 Post by markk1 »

cgrenier wrote:You can
- copy the files using TestDisk, Advanced, List
- or run "cmd" (right click run a administrator), "chkdsk /f d:" (replace d: by the correct drive letter)
Okay thank you I will try this. If this fails any other ideas on how to make this drive readable by Windows?

markk1
Posts: 3
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 12:06

Re: Windows cannot read FAT32 drive even with OK sectors

#4 Post by markk1 »

The following error occured with the chkdsk /f F:

The type of the file system is FAT32.
An error occurred while reading the file allocation table (FAT 1).
An error occurred while reading the file allocation table (FAT 2).
There are no readable file allocation tables (FAT).

What should I do from here?

Any additional help is much appreciated

Locked