Windows 10 Won't Boot: Primary Partition has Become RAW

Windows 10 Won't Boot: Primary Partition has Become RAW

If you are encountering a problem where your Windows 10 computer won't boot and you see an error message stating that the primary partition has become RAW, don't panic. This issue can be frustrating, but with a little troubleshooting, you can get your computer up and running again. In this article, we will explain what this error message means and provide step-by-step instructions to resolve it.

What does it mean when the primary partition becomes RAW?

When the primary partition of your hard drive becomes RAW, it means that the file system on that partition has become corrupted or damaged. The file system is responsible for organizing and managing the data on your hard drive. When it gets corrupted, your computer may not be able to read the partition properly, resulting in the error message and the inability to boot into Windows.

How to fix the primary partition RAW error:

Follow these steps to fix the primary partition RAW error and get your Windows 10 computer back up and running:

1. Restart your computer and boot from a Windows installation media. If you don't have a Windows installation media, you can create one on another computer using the Windows Media Creation Tool.
2. When the Windows Setup screen appears, select your language preferences and click "Next".
3. Click on "Repair your computer" at the bottom left corner of the screen.
4. In the next screen, select "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options".
5. Choose "Command Prompt" from the list of advanced options.
6. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /f /r C: and press Enter. Replace "C:" with the drive letter of the affected partition.
7. Wait for the chkdsk utility to scan and repair the partition. This process may take some time depending on the size of your hard drive.
8. Once the repair process is complete, type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
9. Restart your computer and remove the Windows installation media.
10. Your computer should now boot into Windows 10 without any issues.

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, it is possible that the file system on the primary partition is severely damaged. In such cases, you may need to consider formatting the partition and reinstalling Windows 10. However, please note that formatting the partition will erase all data stored on it, so make sure to back up your important files before proceeding.

Conclusion

The primary partition becoming RAW can be a frustrating issue, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve it and get your Windows 10 computer back up and running. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to fix the primary partition RAW error and boot into Windows without any problems.