How to Perform ReFS Data Recovery Step by Step

This article will show you how to perform ReFS data recovery step by step with one of the best ReFS recovery tools MyRecover. Also, there are 3 fixes to ReFS volume showing as RAW below.

By @Ivy Last Updated October 25, 2024

What Is the ReFS File System?

ReFS, or Resilient File System, is a newer version of Microsoft's system. It was introduced as part of Windows Server 2012 to address major issues since the birth of NTFS, arising from two major changes in storage systems and usage - the storage size in use and the need for continued reliability.

So, with it, you can handle large volumes of data with ease—think petabytes, not just terabytes. It is also built with data integrity in mind. ReFS uses checksums to detect and automatically repair data corruption, even without requiring chkdsk. It also proactively detects and repairs errors.

In addition, it optimizes performance, using a B+ tree structure to manage data through indexed metadata, reducing I/O operations and making it more efficient, especially with large volumes and varying workloads. Also, the COW (Copy-on-Write) helps.

How to Perform ReFS Data Recovery

ReFS is versatile for different use cases in Windows Server and some versions of Windows 10 and 11. So there is a large number of users who need ReFS Data Recovery.

Well, let’s get to the point, there is no need to be panic even if you have lost data, we will help you bring your data from ReFS volume back without any hassle. We will use MyRecover, one of the best ReFS recovery tools. Here’s what makes it a top choice:

MyRecover
BEST Data Recovery Software for Windows PC
  • Simple interface: You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use MyRecover. Its intuitive interface guides you through the ReFS data recovery process step by step.
  • Comprehensive scanning: MyRecover dives deep, performing a full scan of your ReFS volume to identify all recoverable files, contributing to a high success rate and fast recovery.
  • Multiple file types: Whether you’re trying to recover documents, images, videos, emails, compressed files, etc., MyRecover has you covered, even up to 200+ data formats.
  • Selectively data recovery: MyRecover allows you to search or filter and recover specific files, folders, or data types and recover them without waiting to see all deleted or lost files.
  • All-inclusive scenarios: MyRecover can handle different misfortune data loss scenarios, such as accidental deletion, virus infection, corrupted or formatted disks, system crashes, and more.

Steps to Recover ReFS Data Using MyRecover

Let’s walk through the ReFS file recovery process. Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get your data back.

Step 1. Select the ReFS Volume to Scan

Open MyRecover and you will see all the available drives. Select the ReFS volume containing deleted or lost data and click Scan.

Step 2. Search for Deleted or Lost files

MyRecover will comb through the ReFS volume, identifying deleted or lost files with the help of its scanning algorithms. The Quick Scan searches for deleted files while Deep Scan for lost files.

Step 3. Locate and Preview Files Quickly

Once found, it will display all recoverable files in the following window. You can click the Filter feature, displayed as a funnel-shaped button, click Type to specify a data type (e.g. images), and type a specific file name or its extension (e.g. png) to narrow it down. You are allowed to preview the selected files as well.

⚠️Note: You can also go to their original location if you remember it. Expand the Deleted Files, Recycle Bin, or Other Missing Files directories and find the folder containing deleted PNG files. 

Step 4. Recover Lost Data from ReFS Volume

After selecting the desired files, click the Recover x files button to start the ReFS undelete process. The x refers to the number of selected files and their size. MyRecover allows you to recover lost data from ReFS volume for free up to 500MB.

⚠️Note MyRecover only supports 500MB free data recovery. To enjoy unlimited data recovery, please upgrade to MyRecover Pro or Technician.

Step 5. Select a New Location

You will be asked to select a location to save the recovered files. Please select a new one and click Select Folder to confirm it. Otherwise, your data on the ReFS volume may be overwritten, resulting in permanently deleted files.

With these simple steps, MyRecover makes ReFS data recovery as painless as possible, even in the trickiest situations. In addition, you can also use it in different file systems for exFAT/FAT32/NTFS data recovery.

How to Fix "ReFS Volume Showing as RAW" Error

Sometimes, you might find yourself volume showing as RAW. Oops! This can be tricky, especially when dealing with critical data. It means the file system is unrecognized or corrupted, there may be hardware issues, or the OS version is outdated, making it impossible to access data in it.

Don’t lose hope, here are 3 proven ways to fix this hair-raising problem. Let’s explore these methods and instructions together.

Way 1: Uninstall KB5009557

The Windows security update KB5009557 is claimed to be the culprit of “ReFS volume showing as RAW”, so you can go to Control Panel > Programs and Features > View Installed Updates and check if it’s installed.

If yes, right-click this update and click Uninstall. Just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process to remove KB5009557 from your computer.

Way 2: Enable File Data Integrity Stream

Also, the incompatible or corrupt file system can result in ReFS RAW volume. You can choose to enable the file data integrity stream to check and repair any corrupt files.

Just type cmd in the Start menu and select Run as administrator. Then, in the command prompt, type the following commands to enable file data integrity stream. Remember to press Enter to confirm the operation.

  • C:\> Get-Item 'C:\' | Set-FileIntegrity -Enable $True
  • C:\> Get-ChildItem -Recurse 'C:\' | Set-FileIntegrity -Enable $True

Way 3: Format ReFS to NTFS

If your ReFS volume is still showing as RAW, you can choose to format ReFS to NTFS or other popular file systems like FAT32 or exFAT in Disk Management.

In Disk Management, right-click the ReFS volume and select Format. Then, choose NTFS from the drop-down menu and check the Perform a quick format option. Once done, click OK to confirm you want to format ReFS to NTFS.

Conclusion

ReFS is a powerful and resilient file system, but it also suffers from data loss to data loss, thus triggering the need for ReFS data recovery. MyRecover offers a straightforward interface and superior technologies to find deleted or lost data precisely and recover them quickly.

With it, you can recover multiple data types, from images to videos, documents, emails, etc., over 200+ formats. Also, it offers users some small but useful features, such as search, filter, preview, etc., to accelerate the data recovery process. In the end, being prepared (e.g. keep MyRecover installed on your PC or server, or backup files regularly) is half the battle.

MyRecover

One of the Best ReFS Recovery Tools

FAQs about ReFS Data Recovery

1. Does chkdsk work on ReFS?
 

No, the CHKDSK command doesn't work on ReFS. It uses checksums to detect and repair corrupt data without restarting. It will isolate the damaged part from spreading across the disk even if it fails.

2. Does ReFS support data deduplication?
 

Yes, it relies on ReFS block cloning to enable metadata-only operations instead of using a chunk store to save deduped data, or involving physical data movement.

3. When to use ReFS file system?
 

There are some common scenarios below to use ReFS file systems:

  • large-scale storage solutions
  • data-intensive applications
  • Hyper-V virtualization
  • backup and disaster recovery
  • file servers with high data availability needs
  • ......
What are the disadvantages of ReFS?
 

ReFS is more reliable, resilient, and scalable but less stable than NTFS. By comparison, there are some disadvantages:

  • ReFS consumes more system resources. The larger the disk array, the more RAM and IOPS ReFS are used for file integrity.
  • You can’t format a system drive in ReFS.
  • You can’t convert data from NTFS to ReFS without formatting.
  • It doesn't support some features of NTFS, including file compression, encryption, hard links, transactions and object IDs.
5. How to prevent data loss on ReFS volume?
 

Regular backups are key to preventing this issue. It is also a wise choice to keep ReFS recovery tools like MyRecover installed on your PC or server, so you can perform ReFS undelete in the first place. Also, avoid abrupt shutdowns and power failures, as they can contribute to file system corruption.