How To Fix Hard Disk I/O Device Error On Windows

Recently, we found lots of Windows 10 users complaining about a strange error. The strange error message “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error” occurs while performing different tasks related to the hard drives, SD cards, SSD, and USB Drives.

What’s worse is that it doesn’t allow users to read or write from a disk. That means you can’t copy and paste or move things around. So, in this article, we have decided to share with you a few of the best fixes to solve The request that could not be performed because of an I/O device error.

What is an I/O device error?

Well, I/O device error means Input/Output Device Error. The error occurs when the operating system fails to connect to the hardware device. There might be several reasons behind the error: outdated drivers, lost hardware connection, incompatibility issues, or hard drive damage.

If your hard disk is damaged, these methods won’t work, and you need to change or repair your hard disk drive. However, if the error occurs for other reasons, it can be fixed quickly.

How To Fix Hard Disk I/O Device Error On Windows

So, here are a few of the best methods to fix the “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error” message on a Windows 10 computer.

1. Restart Your Computer

As we all know, a simple restart can sometimes fix many software problems. So, if the “the request could not be performed because of an I/O device” error occurs because of the software you have installed, then it can be fixed with a simple restart.

So, restarting your computer before making further changes is always better. Therefore, restart your computer and then check whether the error persists.

2. Check the Hardware Connections

The Hard Disk I/O Device Error On Windows is generally caused by a disconnected cable. The problem appears when the computer tries to access a device without a response.

Another prominent reason for the Hard Disk I/O Device Error On Windows is when a program tries to access a file that has been deleted.

You need to take care of these things first to resolve the error message:

• Make sure the cables are properly connected.
• Check the cables of the internal hard drive.
• Check the USB Cable & Port where the external drive is connected.
• Roll back the recent hardware changes made on the computer.

3. Reinstall the USB drivers

Many Windows users have claimed to fix the I/O Device Errors by reinstalling the USB drivers. Here’s how you can reinstall the USB drivers on Windows.

1. Type in Device Manager on the Windows 11 Search. Next, open the Device Manager app from the list of search results.

2. When the Device Manager opens, expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers

3. Right-click on the external hard drive or any USB device showing the error and select Uninstall device.

4. Once uninstalled, restart your PC.

That’s it! Your PC will automatically install the device during the boot.

4. Using SFC Command

SFC command scans and fixes system-related files of your Windows computer. Also, the SFC command is beneficial when fixing a corrupted Windows file. So, we need to run the SFC command on CMD to fix the “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error”. Here’s what you need to do.

• Search CMD on the search bar.
• Right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
• Now, on the CMD, enter sfc/scannow
• Wait until the scanning process completes.

5. Using Chkdsk Command

CHKDSK is another useful command to fix The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error. CHKDSK verifies the file system integrity of a volume and fixes logical file system errors. Here’s how to use chkdsk command to fix the I/O device error.

• Search CMD on the search bar.
• Right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
• Now, on the CMD, enter chkdsk /R /C: (Here’s C is the drive label which is creating the problem)
• Wait until the command completes the scanning process

The ChkDsk command will identify any bad sector and attempt recovery options.

6. Perform a Clean Boot

Many users have claimed to resolve the disk I/O error by clean booting their system. Clean boot will turn off the applications or services hindering a user’s access to a particular system directory or its files.

Hence, if nothing has worked for you until now, you can try performing a clean boot of the system. Here are the steps you need to follow.

1. Press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box. When the RUN dialog box opens, type msconfig.msc and press Enter.

2. This will open the System Configuration panel. Switch to the Services tab.

3. Now check the Hide all Microsoft Services and click on the Disable All option.

4. Now open the Task Manager and switch to Startup. Right-click on the Apps and select Disable.

That’s it! After disabling the apps, restart your Windows PC. This will clean boot your device and will fix the disk error.

7. Run the Default Error Checking Of Windows

Well, the Windows operating system provides us with lots of troubleshooting tips. One of those is to check the hardware for errors. Running the Windows default tool to fix the I/O device error is one of the effective methods that you can try today. So, here’s how you can use the Windows default tool for Error checking.

• Right-click on the drive where you get the error and select Properties.
• Next, locate the Tool tab and then click on the Check button
• Now, the tool will send you a confirmation message. Click on Scan Drive to start the error-checking process

That’s it! After completing the error-checking process, the “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error” will be fixed.

So, these are the best methods to fix the “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error” from your Windows computer. If you have any other doubts, then make sure to discuss them with us in the comments.