How To Recover Data From Hard Drive With A Read-Only File System Error?

Summary: Read-only file system error on a hard drive is a common system error that can arise. This comprehensive blog discusses the issue and provides various methods to recover data from HDD with Read-Only File System Error. From basic methods like creating a disk image to using data recovery software, and seeking professional assistance are explained. Additionally, it offers troubleshooting steps to fix the error “read-only file system”. And the importance of avoiding further data writes to prevent data loss is highlighted. Get FREE Quote

The “Read-only file system error” is more than you might think.

Source: quora.com

It can happen on any hard drive. At any time. And with any kind of file.

Source: reddit.com

Now no matter the circumstances, a “Read-only file system error” can be disastrous. You not just lose edit access to your data, but might sometimes also lose the entire data itself.

But you don’t have to scramble here and there to find fixes for the read-only file system error on your hard drive.

This guide will dive deep into the following questions:

1. What Is The Read-Only File System Error On A Hard Drive?
2. How To Troubleshoot A Hard Drive With A Read-Only File System Error?
3. What Are The Methods Of Recovering Data From A Hard Drive With A Read-Only File System Error?
4. Case Study: Data Recovery From Hard Disk – Logically Complex Case
5. Why Is There A Need To Avoid Further Writing On The Drive?
6. FAQs

Plus, we have also answered some of the frequently asked questions about “recover data from hard drive with read-only file system error”.

What Is The Read-Only File System Error?

The Read-Only file system error is a common issue.

It occurs when the operating system detects that a storage device, like a hard drive, is set to read-only mode.

This error prevents any modifications or write operations on the affected drive. And this can hinder normal data access and file editing.

The error message typically indicates that the file system has been marked as read-only. Potential issues with the drive’s integrity or file system corruption usually cause this issue.

Resolving this error is crucial to regaining write access to the drive and retrieving important data.

Fix A Hard Drive With Read-Only File System Error

Here are some ways to fix a hard drive with Read-Only File System Error.

1. Check Drive Permissions

Sometimes, incorrect permissions can cause the drive to be read-only. Adjusting the permissions appropriately may resolve the issue.

Check and ensure that the drive’s permissions are correctly set to allow read and write access.

To Check The Drive Permission:

1. Right-click on the drive that is experiencing read-only issues.
2. Select “Properties“
3. In the Properties window, navigate to the “Security” tab.

If The File Permission Is Incorrect, Change That By Following These Steps:

• Click on the “Edit” button.
• A new window will appear with a list of Group or User names and their corresponding permissions.
• Select the appropriate user account or the “Users” group.
• Click on the “Full control” or “Modify” box to enable write access.
• Click “Apply” to save the changes and then click “OK” to close the window.
• Now in the Properties window, click “OK” to apply the changes to the drive’s permissions.

2. Scan For File System Errors

Perform a thorough scan of the drive to identify and fix any file system errors. Most operating systems provide built-in utilities for this purpose, such as CHKDSK on Windows or fsck on Linux. Running these utilities can help repair any inconsistencies in the file system.

3. Repair Disk Errors

If the read-only error persists, there may be physical errors on the hard drive. Using disk repair tools, such as Disk Utility on macOS or third-party disk repair software on Windows, can help detect and fix these errors.

4. Reformat The Drive

As a last resort, reformatting the drive can eliminate the read-only error.

However, note that this method erases all data on the disk and get “disk read only fix”.

Unable to fix the read-only file system error? Try out the following methods to get your “disk read only fix”.

Methods To Recover Data From Hard Drive With Read-Only File System Error

There are several ways to recover data from hard drive with Read-Only File System Error.

So read on and try the methods one by one till you finally have your data back.

Method 1A: Create A Disk Image

One method to recover data from HDD with Read-Only File System Error is by creating a disk image.

This involves creating a bit-by-bit copy of the entire drive and saving it to another storage device.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Prepare a working computer and connect the faulty hard drive.
2. Identify the faulty hard drive and the destination storage device.
3. Choose disk imaging software that supports bit-by-bit imaging.
4. Open the software. Select the faulty hard drive as the source and the destination device to save the image.
5. Choose the bit-by-bit imaging option; then start the imaging process.
6. Once the process is complete, verify the integrity of the disk image using checksums.
7. Store the disk image securely on a separate storage device.

With the disk imaging method, you can preserve the existing data. And perform data recovery operations on the disk image without affecting the original drive.

Method 1B: Mount The Disk Image

After creating the disk image, you can mount it as a virtual drive. This allows you to access the data stored within. And by mounting the disk image, you bypass the read-only limitation of the original drive. Thus, enabling you to retrieve your files and folders.

Method 2: Use Data Recovery Software

Utilizing specialized data recovery software, like Stellar Data Recovery, can help “recover data from hard drive with read-only file system error”.

The Stellar Data Recovery tool can scan the drive, identify recoverable files, and facilitate their restoration.

Some of the key features of Stellar Data Recovery software include

• Complete recovery from any storage media
• Works on devices other than hard drives as well (Like SSDs and 4K drives, SD cards, USB drives, etc.)
• Recovery support for NTFS, exFAT, and FAT formatted drives, ensuring compatibility with different file systems.
• Restores all file types and formats

Method 3: Professional Data Recovery Services

Is the data on the read-only hard drive critical?

Have you tried the conventional methods and they proved unsuccessful?

Then seeking assistance from professional data recovery services without further delay is the best option.

Stellar’s professional data recovery experts possess the technical expertise and advanced tools necessary to recover data from faulty drives.

We carry out 40,000+ recoveries in our labs (that’s roughly 30+ petabytes of data) each year. And we have been doing it for 30 years, winning more than 100 awards along the way.

Here’s the simple four-step process that can help you recover data from a hard drive with error “read-only file system”

You can gauge our capabilities by exploring this case study.

Case Study: Data Recovery From Hard Disk – Logically Complex Case

Client: Individual

Goal: To recover data from the Hard Disk Drive

Approach: Stellar Data Recovery – Kolkata performed the data recovery

Challenges Faced:

• It was detected that the hard drive had some file system issues
• There were several types of file formats that need to be recovered. Like, PSD, PMD, PDF, CDR, and PMG.

Stellar Data Recovery’s Process:

• Initial Analysis revealed that the client’s Hard Disk had file system issues. This was causing the files to not work after copying.
• After deeper analysis, we found that the Hard Drive is read-only errors and file system errors.
• Post-error-identification, we fixed the underlying issues and we recovered the data successfully.

Client Feedback:

The client was very happy with our services. They were completely satisfied that they received all the precious data that was present on the faulty media drive.

Important: Avoid Further Writing To The Drive

To prevent potential data loss or further damage to the drive, it is crucial to avoid writing any new data to the affected drive.

Continued writing operations can overwrite existing data. And ultimately make it significantly more challenging to recover lost files.

So it is highly recommended that you minimize drive usage until the data is successfully recovered.

FAQs

1. Why did my hard drive become read-only?

Some possible reasons for the “drive is read only” on the hard drive include

• File system corruption,
• Disk errors, or
• Physical damage or errors

2. Can a virus or malware cause a read-only error on a hard drive?

Yes, certain types of viruses or malware can cause a read-only error on a hard drive. Some malicious programs can modify drive permissions or manipulate the file system. This results in the drive being marked as read-only.

Regularly update and use antivirus software to protect your system from such infections.

Additional Reading: External Hard Disk I/O Device Errors – A Device Which Does Not Exist Was Specified