NTFS formatted USB Disk Drive becomes unformatted after ejecting

I have an external USB hard disk, which was NTFS formatted. I switch this drive frequently between two Windows 11 PCs.

After a couple of incidents where files were unreadable, I was advised to switch to ExFAT. But then certain files I added on PC 1 weren't shown on PC 2, and when I reconnected to PC 1 they were there again. So, ExFAT wasn't the obvious solution, and I went back to NTFS. But this time I ejected safely before disconnecting. (Previously I just disconnected after putting the PC in hibernate/shut down).

Sequence of events:
1. Format drive as NTFS on PC 1
2. Restore files from backup
3. Eject drive
4. Disconnect after USB's port LED is off
5. Connect to PC 2

PC 2 now reports the drive as unformatted ("RAW")! So does PC 1 after reconnecting there.

Questions:
1. Doesn't eject work in general for external NTFS HDDs?
2. Should I wait until the PC is shut down to disconnect? (i.e. not just wait until the port's LED is off)
3. What are the best file system and disconnecting procedure when switching a drive between PCs?

Have you checked health of the HDD using CrystalDiskInfo also post a screenshot of Disk Management.

stevenvh said:

Questions:
1. Doesn't eject work in general for external NTFS HDDs?
2. Should I wait until the PC is shut down to disconnect? (i.e. not just wait until the port's LED is off)
3. What are the best file system and disconnecting procedure when switching a drive between PCs?

Click to expand...

I have used external HDDs and SSDs for many years.

1. Yes.
2. It depends on whether or not the write cache of the disk is activated. If it is activated, eject or shut down and then disconnect.
You can check the write cache status on Device Manager > Properties > Directives.
3. I always use NTFS for disks, exFAT only for Flash drives.

Disk Management screenshot:



I have since reformatted the drive and restored my files from backup, and I can access the files, so the drive seems physically OK. CrystalDiskInfo also reports a health status of "Good".

The RAW file system is a state of a storage device that has an unknown or no file system on Windows.

Whether you aim to recover important files or return the drive to a usable state, my guide provides working solution for RAW storage drive.

Anibor_11 said:

2. It depends on whether or not the write cache of the disk is activated. If it is activated, eject or shut down and then disconnect.
You can check the write cache status on Device Manager > Properties > Directives.

Click to expand...

The write cache sounded promising but your path through Device Manager doesn't seem to work: I can't seem to find Directives under Properties. (That is Properties for a drive, since Properties for Device Manager doesn't seem to exist.)

stevenvh said:

The write cache sounded promising but your path through Device Manager doesn't seem to work: I can't seem to find Directives under Properties. (That is Properties for a drive, since Properties for Device Manager doesn't seem to exist.)

Click to expand...

Sorry, it´s Policies.

How to Enable or Disable Disk Write Caching​

Anibor_11 said:

Sorry, it´s Policies.

Click to expand...

Ah, OK.
"Quick removal (default)" is checked, so that should be OK. Thanks for the heads-up.


BTW, There are several drives listed with the same description: "WD Elements 25A3 USB Device". Is there any way to tell them apart? There doesn't seem to be anything in the properties, like for instance drive letter.

stevenvh said:

Is there any way to tell them apart?

Click to expand...

Yes.
In Device mgr, [select the disk], Properties, Volumes - click on the Populate button and it will identify its drive letter(s) & label(s).

All my external HDDs are backed up to other external HDDs.
If I had a disaster on one of them, I'd first try recovering with MiniToolPartitionWizard - see example guidance in
Partition Recovery - TenForums
Data lost on my backup drive - Minitool disk recovery - TenForums


Denis