How to Initialize Disk without Losing Data In 3 Procedures Step by Step

PAGE CONTENT:

What Does Initialize Disk Mean?
Does Initializing a Disk Erase Data?
3 Procedures to Initialize Disk without Losing Data

Hard Drive Showing Unknown, Not Initialized

"Disk (0, 1, 2...), unknown, not initialized and unallocated" is a common hard disk error that can be frustrating. When a hard drive becomes uninitialized, you can no longer access the data on it. In this situation, initializing the disk without losing data is a priority. Typically, you'll see a disk showing "Unknown, Not Initialized" in one of two scenarios:

The disk is brand new, requiring initialization to partition it, followed by formatting the partition to make it ready for data storage.
The disk may have been used for a long time and has become "Not Initialized" due to wear and tear or corruption of the file system, which can be caused by a variety of factors such as power outages, hardware failures, or software issues. This can result in the disk being unable to be accessed or recognized by the computer, making it appear as if it is not initialized.

Hard Drive Not Initialized

Initializing a disk will not erase any data on it, but it will change its partition and formatting. If you have files or folders on the disk, initializing it will not affect them. However, if you want to use the disk for a different purpose, you may need to format it, which will erase all data on it. If you're unsure, it's always best to back up your data before making any changes.

What Does Initialize Disk Mean?

When you add a new disk to your PC, it won't show up in File Explorer right away. To access it, you need to initialize the disk, which erases everything on it and prepares it for use by Windows. After initialization, you can format the disk and use it to store files.

The data on used disks that need to be initialized may be lost, as system errors can cause irreparable damage. This can be a concern for users who have important files and data stored on these disks. However, the process of initialization can also be a chance to start fresh and potentially resolve system issues. It's worth noting that the specific outcome depends on the nature of the system errors and the type of data stored on the disk. If the data is backed up, it may be recoverable, but if not, it could be lost forever.

Does Initializing a Disk Erase Data?

When the Master Boot Record (MBR) on your disk is corrupted, it may appear as "Unknown, Not Initialized" in your system. Initializing a disk in this case means rebuilding the MBR, which will not erase any data on the disk. This process is essential to restore the disk's functionality.

Initializing a disk does not make it usable again, but rather prepares it for use. It is the process of preparing the disk for use, which can be followed by partitioning and formatting the drive, which will erase any existing data on the disk. This is why people may warn that initializing a disk will erase data on it.

How to Initialize Disk Without Losing Data?

The correct procedures to handle a disk that is not initialized without losing data are to first try to initialize it in a safe mode, and if that fails, to use a recovery tool or a professional data recovery service to retrieve the data. If the disk is still not accessible, it may be necessary to send it to a professional data recovery lab for further analysis and data recovery.

Initialized the disk
Recover data from the hard drive
To prepare a disk for data storage, you can partition and format it. Partitioning involves dividing the disk into smaller sections, called partitions, to organize and structure the data.

Procedure 1. Initialize the Disk

Step 1. Right-click "This PC" and choose "Manage" > "Disk Management".

Step 2. Right-click the disk showing "Not Initialized" and choose "Initialize Disk"

Step 3. In the "Initialize Disk" window, select a partition style (MBR or GPT) and click "OK" to proceed.

Initialize Disk in Disk Management

Procedure 2. Recover Data from the Disk

After initializing the disk, you may notice the status of the hard drive is not "Not Initialized" anymore, but the layout shows as "Unallocated", indicating the disk is still inaccessible. Before creating a new volume on the drive, it's essential to recover any data from the disk.

To recover data from an inaccessible external hard drive, we suggest using Deep Data Recovery software. This tool can recover deleted files, formatted data, and RAW drive data, as well as data from inaccessible disks.

The software is a powerful tool for recovering lost data, with a user-friendly interface and advanced features such as deep scan, file preview, and recovery. It supports various file systems, including NTFS, FAT, and HFS+, and can recover data from various storage devices, including hard drives, solid-state drives, and USB drives.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

To recover data from your disk after initializing:

Step 1. Select file types and click "Next" to start

Launch Deep Data Recovery software, select the desired file types, and click "Next" to initiate the recovery process.

Select file types that you want to recover

Step 2. Select and scan the lost partition

Select "Lost Partition" and click "Scan" to search for all the lost data, and if there are many lost partitions, identify them through their partition size.

Since the Windows system doesn't support the Linux file system, the Ext2 or Ext3 partition will be recognized as a lost partition with no drive letter. To recover data from an Ext2/Ext3 partition, follow the steps.

Step 3. Filter the scanned results

You can quickly filter scanned files by category, such as Pictures, Videos, Documents, Audio, and Others, or search for a specific file by name in the top right search box.

Step 4. Preview and recover data from the lost partition

Before recovery, you can preview the file to ensure it's the data you need. Once confirmed, select all the files required and click "Recover" to restore them.

You can also try to rescue lost, deleted, or corrupted data with Deep Data Recovery, which has helped millions of users with successful data recovery from various issues, including unrecognized hard disk, unallocated hard drive partition, RAW hard drive, formatted hard drive, and virus-infected hard drive. When your hard drive data is lost after fixing the drive, which becomes unknown, not initialized, or unallocated, you can always try it to bring lost data back with simple steps.

Consult with Qiling Data Recovery Experts for one-on-one manual recovery service. We offer a range of services after a free diagnosis, including manual recovery, which is tailored to your specific needs and ensures the best possible outcome.

To repair a corrupted RAID structure, unbootable Windows OS, or a damaged virtual disk file (.vmdk, .vhd, .vhdx, etc.), you need to take corrective measures. First, identify the issue - is it a RAID corruption, Windows OS failure, or a virtual disk file problem.
Recover/repair lost partition and re-paritioned drive.
Unformat hard drive and repair raw drive(Bitlocker encrypted drive)
Fix disks that become GPT protected partitions

Procedure 3. Partition and Format the Disk

You can now create new volumes on your disk without worrying about losing all your files.

Step 1. Right-click "This PC" and choose "Manage" > "Disk Management".

Step 2. Right-click the unallocated space and choose "New Simple Volume..."

Step 3. In New Simple Volume Wizard, click "Next" to continue.

Step 4. The wizard will guide you to set the volume size, assign a drive letter, and then format the partition.

Partition and Format the Disk

The Bottom Line

Initializing a disk doesn't erase data, but partitioning and formatting it will cause data loss, making data recovery software necessary to preserve existing files.