Fix I/O Device Error on External Hard Drive/USB Drive in Windows

"The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error"

I/O Device Error, Input/Output Device Error typically occurs on external devices such as hard drives, SD cards, USB flash drives, CDs, or DVDs when attempting to perform write and read operations in Windows 10/8/7.

When you try to access files, you get an I/O Device error saying "The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error."

The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error

Quick Guide - 5 Methods to Fix I/O Device Error on Your Own

To solve your problem, you can take the following methods and corresponding guidelines to fix the I/O device error on your storage devices immediately.

5 Methods	Risky Level	Difficulty Level
Check & Change Device Connection	Low	Easy
Update/Re-install Device Driver	Low	Easy
Change Device Transfer Mode	Medium	Easy
Send for Manual Repair	Medium (Possible privacy disclosure)	Easy
Command Prompt	High (Possible data loss)	Medium

Overview of I/O Device Error

The I/O device error typically occurs when a user tries to access a hard drive or external storage device, and the system is unable to read or write data to it. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including hardware issues, driver problems, or file system corruption. To determine if you're experiencing the error, you can check for symptoms such as the device not appearing in File Explorer, error messages when trying to access the device, or the device being listed as "offline" in the Device Manager. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you can try troubleshooting the issue by running a disk check, updating drivers, or reinstalling the device drivers.

Symptoms

This error message typically appears when there is a problem with the physical storage device or the file system, such as a corrupted or faulty hard drive, a disk that is full, or a file system that is damaged. It can also occur when there is an issue with the operating system's ability to read or write to the device.
"Only part of a ReadProcessMemory or WriteProcessMemory request was completed.
The I/O Error codes you've listed (error 6, error 21, error 103, error 105, error 131) can be related to various issues with input/output operations, such as disk I/O errors, file system errors, or hardware issues. These codes often indicate problems with the way the system is reading or writing data to storage devices or other peripherals.

Causes

Connection issue between your storage devices and PC
Windows is trying to use a transfer mode that the hardware device cannot use, likely due to an outdated device driver. This can cause issues with the device's functionality.
Your device is showing as "Disk Unknown" or "Not Initialized" on your computer, indicating that it's damaged or corrupted. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including physical damage, software issues, or firmware problems.

So What to Do with I/O Device Error On Devices? Here are some tips:

1. Stop using the device immediately.
2. Don't unplug and replug the device too frequently.
3. Don't try to format, erase, or repartition the device.
4. Follow the methods provided below one by one to fix this error on your own.

To fix the I/O device error on an external/internal hard drive, you have several solutions available based on the underlying issue. These solutions include checking the drive for physical damage, updating the drive's firmware, running a disk check and disk error check, and using a third-party tool to repair the drive.

Recover Data from I/O Device Error (Recommended)

If you've lost data on an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card due to an I/O device error, you can recover your files using Deep Data Recovery, a hard drive recovery software.

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

To recover data from a device that suffered from an I/O device error, Qiling data recovery software can be used to recover deleted data, formatted files, and RAW files, among other types of data.

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

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

Select file types that you want to recover

Step 2. Scan the hard drive partition

To recover lost or deleted files, select the drive on your hard disk where the files were lost, click "Scan", and let the Qiling data recovery software scan for all lost data and files on the selected drive.

Step 3. Check the results

After the scan is complete, you can apply the "Filter" feature or click the "Search files or folders" option to find the lost files on the hard drive.

Step 4. Restore lost hard drive data

Select the files you want to recover and click "Recover" to save them to a different location.

Method 1. Check and Change Device Connection

Pros: Easy, fast, no data loss.

Cons: /

1. Check the cable connection between the device and the computer.

Check if the connection cables are loose, tight it.
If the connection cables are broken, replace them with new ones and reattach the device.
Connect the external hard drive or USB to another port, especially a rear one.
If you're experiencing issues connecting a device to your computer, you can try connecting it to a different computer to see if the problem persists. This can help you determine if the issue lies with the device, the computer, or the connection itself.

If the I/O device error persists, don't worry. More methods are available for you to apply.

Method 2. Update or Reinstall the Device Driver

Pros: Easy, fast, no data loss.

Cons: Falty operation may cause serious problems. Be careful!

An outdated device driver can cause issues such as "there is no media in the specified device", USB not showing up in Windows, and "the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error" on your device.

Step 1. 1. Connect the device with "I/O device error" to PC.

Step 2. Click "Device Manager", expand "Disk drives".

Step 3. Right-click the problematic device and select "Update driver"

Step 4. Click "Search automatically search for driver software online".

Fix I/O device error - update device driver

Wait for the driver to be updated, then reboot your computer. Afterward, you can open your device to check whether the I/O error still exists.

Method 3. Fix I/O Device Error - Change Transfer Mode in IDE

Pros: No data loss.

Cons: Falty operation may cause serious problems. Be careful!

To resolve the "The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error" issue on Windows, you need to switch the transfer mode by following these steps:

Step 1. Press "Windows+X" to open the menu, then select "Device Manager".

Step 2. The "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" section allows you to expand and view the different IDE ATA/ATAPI channels available on the computer, providing detailed information about each channel.

Step 3. Right-click the channel where the appropriate drive is connected, and then click "Properties".

Note:Don't change the primary IDE channel or device 0, as this may cause computer operating errors.

Step 4. To disable MDA on the appropriate drive, go to the "Advanced Settings" tab, and uncheck the box next to "Enable MDA" in the "Transfer Mode" section for the device representing that drive.

Step 5. Then, click "OK" and exit all windows.

Fix I/O device error - change transfer mode

1. Run a diagnostic test on the external drive to identify and potentially resolve any hardware issues that may be causing the error. 2.

Method 4. Send for Manual Repair and Fix I/O Device Error

Pros: No data loss.

Cons: Expensive. Possible privacy disclosure.

If none of the methods above helps to remove the I/O device error, you are recommended to send your device for manual repair. To do so, you have three options to try: contacting the manufacturer's customer support, visiting a professional repair service, or taking your device to a local electronics repair shop.

I need to contact the device manufacturer and send the disk in for repair.
I'll send the device to a local repair center for manual repair. They will assess the damage and proceed with the necessary repairs. Please note that this may take a few days to complete, depending on the complexity of the issue and the workload of the repair center.
#3. Customize manual device repair and data recovery service.

Here you may try Qiling manual disk repair and data recovery service:

Consult with Qiling Data Recovery Experts for one-on-one manual recovery service, which includes a FREE diagnosis and the following services offered afterwards.

To repair corrupted RAID structure, unbootable Windows OS, and corrupted virtual disk files (.vmdk, .vhd, .vhdx, etc.), you can use specialized tools like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, DiskGenius, or VMDK Repair Tool. These tools can help recover data from damaged RAID configurations, fix boot issues in Windows, and repair corrupted virtual disk files, making them useful for troubleshooting and recovery tasks.
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

Method 5. Fix I/O Device Error in Command Prompt

Pros: May work to fix I/O device error.

Cons: High risk of causing data loss.

This option will run the CHKDSK command to check and repair disk errors on the hard drive, USB drive, or other storage devices, which can fix the I/O device error.

Be cautious when trying to recover data from a damaged drive, as it may result in serious data loss. If you're considering this option, move on to the next part and follow the data recovery guide to scan and restore your files in advance.

Step 1. 1. Press the Windows key + S keys on your keyboard.

Step 2. 1. Open the Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 3. To troubleshoot a device with an I/O device error on the E: drive, you can run the built-in Windows command `chkdsk E: /f /r /x` in Command Prompt or PowerShell. This command will check the disk for errors, fix any logical errors, read-only scan to check for physical errors, and force the command to run even if the disk is in use.

Fix I/O device error with chkdsk command

Note:The error message "cannot open the volume for direct access" when using CMD can be resolved by following the provided link to get an immediate fix.

To repair a corrupted file system, start by booting your computer from a recovery drive or a Windows installation media. From there, you can access the Command Prompt and run the built-in Check Disk (chkdsk) utility to scan and repair any errors on your hard drive.

Qiling CleanGenius is a user-Introducing a user-friendly computer fixing tool that's both safe and lightweight! This one-click solution is the perfect alternative to the CHKDSK command, allowing you to easily fix damaged file systems with just one click. No more complicated commands or technical know-how required - just click, fix, and get back to work!

Step 1. DOWNLOAD Qiling CleanGenius on your computer and complete the installation.

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

Step 2. Run the software. Click "Optimization", and then choose "File Showing" .

Step 3. Select the drive with a corrupted file system. Tick the "Check and fix file system error" option and click "Execute".

Step 4. Wait the tool performs the repairing task. After that, click the "here" button to check the drive.

The Bottom Line

If all solutions fail to fix "the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error", you can try Deep Data Recovery to recover your files as many as possible, but it's recommended to recover data from your problematic device when there is data loss after the fix.