FIX “Volume does not contain a recognized file system” and Recover Files

Read time: 7 minutes

In certain situations, when you connect an external storage device such as a hard disk, PEN Drive, SD card, USB Flash drive, or any other type of storage medium to your computer, you may encounter a recurring error message. This message prompts you to choose between scanning and repairing the device or canceling the operation. Opting for the “cancel” option repeatedly results in the persistent reappearance of this error message. On the other hand, if you select “scan and fix,” the system will prompt you to format the external drive. Should you choose to cancel the formatting process and attempt to access the drive, you will encounter the following error: “G:\ is not accessible. The volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please ensure that all necessary file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.”

In this blog we are going to learn reasons and fixes for this error.

Probable Reasons For This Error

This error primarily stems from issues within the file system, preventing access or data retrieval from a drive. It typically arises when essential information about the file system type is either missing or inconsistent across multiple system tables. To put it simply:

1. Your computer does not recognize the file system of your storage device.
2. The file system of your device is not available or is missing.
3. File system is damaged or corrupt.
4. Your device is not formatted correctly.
5. Drive is corrupt.
6. Bad sectors on drive.
7. Drive has become RAW.
8. Space not allocated.
9. Deletion of necessary system files accidentally.
10. Improper shut down of computer.
11. Power surge or sudden cut of power supply.
12. Encryption of volume or disk.
13. Error in partition table.

It is advisable to disconnect an external hard drive or any other storage device from your computer using the correct and recommended procedure to avoid data loss.

It is a widely acknowledged principle that prevention is superior to treatment. To steer clear of this mistake, adhere to the precautionary measures provided below:

• Whenever you disconnect an external drive, it’s crucial to follow proper procedures. Click the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ icon in the taskbar or wait until the external drive has finished all activities such as data reading and writing. Next, navigate to Start, go to Settings, select Devices, and choose the external drive to remove it safely.
• Frequently conduct scans on your computer and external drives for viruses by employing trustworthy and effective antivirus software. Additionally, exercise caution when encountering dubious links, applications, emails, and attachments.
• It is advisable to maintain a secure environment for your storage devices, exercise caution in their handling, and prevent their exposure to extreme environmental conditions.
• It’s highly advisable to consistently create backups of your vital data, maintaining multiple duplicates and storing them in various remote locations.

The SFC utility is an integrated Windows tool designed to examine your computer’s system files for any signs of missing or corruption and subsequently rectify the affected files. To initiate an SFC scan, please adhere to the provided steps:

1. Go to Start and type CMD to open command prompt.
2. Select Run as administrator.
3. Type sfc/scannow and press Enter
4. Restart your computer once scanning process is complete.

To scan your drive for any error, plug in your drive to your computer and follow the steps given under.

1. Open File Explorer and select This PC.
2. Right-click the drive showing error and select Properties.
3. Select Tools and click check
4. Click Scan drive.
5. Once the process is complete, go to This PC and check if the drive opens.

This built-in utility of Windows helps you to scan drive for bad sector(s). Follow the steps given under to run this utility:

1. Follow the steps 1-2 of method 1 and type chckdsk D:/f (‘D:’ is the drive letter so replace the same with your drive letter) and press Enter
2. Restart your computer once scan is over.

Updating USB drive can fix the volume which is not containing the recognized system file. Follow the steps given below to update USB drive:

1. Go to Start and type Device manager and open it.
2. Find Universal Serial Bus Controllers and expand it.
3. Right-click Generic USB Hub.
4. Select Update Driver.

You can use various methods for partition format but you may lose data. Follow the steps given under:

1. Plug in the erring external drive.
2. Go to Start ,type Disk Management and open
3. Right click the portion you want to format.
4. Click Format.
5. Rename Volume label as per your need and ease.
6. Select File system as FAT32 or NTFS.
7. Select Default for Allocate unit size.
8. Check Perform a quick format.
9. Press Ok.
10. Wait till the process is complete.

Sometimes, the methods mentioned above may not be effective, or you might have limited time to address the error. Additionally, some users may not be inclined towards technical solutions and prefer a simpler resolution. In these situations, we suggest turning to a dependable and efficient tool designed specifically for this purpose. Kernel for Window Data Recovery tool helps you to recover your all lost, inaccessible, or deleted data from corrupt Windows partitions and external storage devices like USB drive, PEN drive, SD Cards, external hard drives etc. This tool efficiently and accurately scans all data for corruption, bad sectors, and errors. It then proceeds to recover data from disks, partitions, and sectors, all while remaining user-friendly and easy to use.

Winding up

It is frustrating at times when you end up finding your own data inaccessible or lost in various scenarios from your computer or any other external storage device due to various errors like Windows safe mode not working and you need to recover lost data from corrupted flash drives. Even other necessities like recover data from external hard drive. Undoubtedly, restoring your data to its original and complete state requires patience, time, and effort. When selecting a third-party software tool for this task, it’s essential to opt for one that is reputable, efficient, reliable, and user-friendly. You wouldn’t want to find yourself caught in the web of additional complexities and technical hurdles.