Fix I / O device error - how it works
If an I / O device error occurs, you can usually no longer access the files of the affected drive. We explain in this practical tip what to do in such a case.
What is an I / O device error?
An I / O device error means that a problem occurred while reading or writing to a data carrier (I / O = input / output). This error can have various causes, but in most cases it indicates an irreparable hardware defect. The aim should therefore be to save the files on the data carrier and to replace the data carrier.
I / O device failure - Repair bad sectors
In most cases, the I / O device error prevents you from accessing your data. Windows error checking can help here:
- Press the key combination [Win] + [E] to open Windows Explorer.
- Right-click on the faulty hard drive and select "Properties" from the context menu.
- In the "Tools" tab, click "Check". Wait for the process to finish. Then check whether you can access the disk.
Repair bad sectors with 'chkdsk'
If you still cannot access the data carrier, a second attempt at repair via the command prompt is recommended:
- Open the command prompt as an administrator.
- Enter the command "chkdsk X: / f / r" (without quotation marks) and confirm your entry with [Enter]. Replace the "X" with the respective drive letter. Again, wait for the process to finish.
I / O device failure: Other approaches
If the error is not due to a defect in the data carrier, further solutions are possible:
- Replace the data cable (SATA / IDE) with which the hard disk is connected.
- Connect the hard drive to another port.
- Update the controller / motherboard drivers.
Special case: I / O device error with CD and DVD drives
However, I / O device errors do not only occur with hard drives. CD or DVD drives can also be affected. As a rule, however, the error only occurs with older devices. The transmission mode used is usually to blame:
- Press the key combination [Win] + [R] to open the command prompt. Enter the command "devmgmt.msc" (without quotes). The device manager opens.
- Expand the "IDE ATA / ATAPI Controller" entry and double-click on the IDE channel to which your drive is connected (primary or secondary).
- Go to the "Advanced Settings" tab. In the "Transmission mode" dropdown box, select "PIO only". Confirm the change with the OK button.
