5 Ways to Fix Fatal Hardware Errors Without Losing Your Data (UTF-8)

The “Failed to Load Data Due to Hardware Error” message can be scary, but it's not always as bad as it seems. Read on to learn how to fix the problem and recover your files.

Overview of 'Request failed with error 'Fatal device hardware error'

"A fatal device hardware error" typically indicates that the operating system is unable to access or perform read/write operations on the hard disk drive. This could be due to physical failure of the hard disk, connectivity issues, controller errors, or other hardware-related problems. Resolving this error often requires examining and troubleshooting the hardware, which might involve checking data cables, power connections, testing the hard drive on another computer, or considering professional data recovery services.

The request failed due to a fatal hardware error in the device.

So, what causes this error, and how can you tell if your hard drive is experiencing it? Refer to the table below:

Cause:

• A faulty USB cable or loose connection.
• Too many bad sectors on the drive.
• A system or hardware malfunction.
• The hard drive is failing.

Symptoms:

• "X: Access is denied. The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error."
• "Error 0x800701E3: The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error."
• "Virtual Disk Manager: The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error."

6 Ways to Fix "Request Failed Due to a Hardware Error"

How to fix "Request failed due to fatal device hardware error" on external hard drive? This post lists 6 effective methods to help you out:

• 1. Check the Connections
• 2. Seek Help from a Hard Drive Repair Service
• 3. Verify SMART Status
• 4. Check and Repair Bad Sectors
• 5. Update Storage Device Drivers
• 6. Send the Problem Device for Repair

Fix 1: Check the hard drive connection

Check that the cable connections aren't loose. If they are, push them firmly back into their ports. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the external hard drive, or switch to a different USB port. Replace the existing cable with a new USB cable. If possible, connect the hard drive to another computer to determine if the issue is with your PC or the drive itself.

If none of these work, you might try one of the alternatives mentioned below.

Fix 2: Contact a hard drive recovery service

The most effective way to resolve the "Request failed due to a fatal hardware error" issue is by seeking assistance from professionals. Tools like the Data Recovery Wizard Pro offer data recovery services and HDD repair recommendations to fix hard drives and SSDs. Contact an expert to address the fatal error on your hard drive.

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Hard Drive Repair Service

Click here to contact our experts for a free consultation.

Consult with our Data Recovery Wizard experts for one-on-one manual recovery services. After a free diagnosis, we can offer the following services:

• Repair of damaged RAID structures, unbootable Windows operating systems, and corrupted virtual disk files
• Recovery/repair of lost partitions and repartitioned drives
• Recover formatted hard drives and repair RAW drives (BitLocker encrypted drives)
• Fix disks that have become protected GPT partitions

Fix 3: Check the SMART status

SMART stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. You can check the SMART attributes of a disk to determine if it is failing and the severity of the problem.

Here's how to check the SMART status of your hard drive:

Step 1: Press Windows + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the Quick Links menu.

Step 2: Type wmic diskdrive get status, and press Enter.

Step 3: The command returns four different states: "OK," "Bad," "Unknown," and "Caution."

• Normal: Nothing to worry about; try fix #34 (below) to return the drive to a healthy state.
• Error: You can probably correct this with fix #4, #5, or #6 (below). Data recovery is also recommended.
• Warning: This indicates more serious damage. It's best to send the drive in for repair.

Fix 4: Check and repair bad sectors

Bad sectors aren't as bad as you'd think, unless they're all over your hard drive. We regularly use the Windows DiskPart utility to check for and fix file system errors and bad sectors. It's a great tool that's worth trying for most issues where a hard drive won't boot or access its data.

Here are the steps to run the Diskpart command to fix bad sectors:

Step 1: Press the Windows + S keys, then type cmd in the search box.

Step 2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type chkdsk F: /f or chkdsk F: /f /r /x, and then press Enter.

(F: stands for the drive letter of the problematic hard disk, so change it to the letter that matches your drive.)

The syntax for checking a disk is:

• /f Fixes system errors. • /r Scans for and attempts to recover bad sectors. • /x Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.

Fix 5: Update the disk driver

If the driver for the storage device is outdated, it can lead to a Fatal Device Hardware Error. Therefore, updating the driver might resolve the issue.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Windows key + S, and then type Device Manager in the search box.

Step 2: Expand "Disk Drives" and look for the hard drive that is reporting the fatal error.

Check if it is covered by a yellow exclamation mark as shown in the image below. If so, update the disk driver as described in Step 3.

Step 3: Right-click on the problematic hard drive and select “Update driver.”

Update the hard drive driver.

Step 4: Click on “Search automatically for updated driver software” and wait for the process to complete.

After that, restart your computer and see if you can access the drive.

Step 6: Repair the faulty devices

If none of these work, your last resort is to take the hard drive in for repair. Often, you'll have options.

1. Contact the hardware manufacturer for assistance. 2. Locate a local repair center to have your device serviced.

[[2]](#2) Three Steps to Recover Data After a Fatal Hardware Error

When you get the “The request failed due to a device hardware error,” your HDD, external hard drive, or removable disk becomes inaccessible. You must fix this issue first.

Upon resolving the "Fatal Hardware Error," you might still find that some data is missing. To get all your data back, you can use a reliable recovery tool like the Data Recovery Wizard. This allows you to scan the problematic drive, find all the files, and move them to another storage device.

Main Features of Hard Drive Data Recovery Software:

• Recover over 1,000 types of files, including photos, videos, documents, audio files, and more.
• Retrieve data from SD cards, USB flash drives, pen drives, HDD, SSD, external hard drives, and more.
• Get back lost data due to deletion, formatting/damage, partition loss, RAW drive issues, and more.
• Repair corrupted files after data recovery. Supports repairing Word, Excel, PDF, videos, photos, and more.

Three-step guide to recovering data after a fatal hardware error:

Step 1: Scan the hard drive partitions

Select the drive on your hard disk where you lost or deleted the file. Click “Scan” to have the data recovery tool scan all lost data and files on the selected drive.

Second step: Check the results

Once the scan is complete, you can use the “Filter” option or click on “Search for deleted files or folders” to look for the lost files on your hard drive.

Step 3: Recover Lost Hard Drive Data

Select the files you want to recover, and click “Restore” to save them elsewhere.

Hopefully, your hard drive is now working normally, or at least you've managed to salvage your precious data. Hardware fails when you least expect it, so we recommend keeping Data Recovery Wizard on hand to rescue your data the moment disaster strikes.

Stop using lethal force; you can fix the hardware.

When you encounter such an issue with your storage device, the first thing you should do is stop using the drive. In this article, we discuss the reasons for request failed due to fatal device hardware error, common symptoms, and six reliable methods to get your problematic device back on track.

If you have important files saved on the problematic device, remember to run the best data recovery software – MiniTool Power Data Recovery Wizard to get all your data back immediately after fixing this error.

Request failed due to fatal hardware error. FAQs on this issue:

Hopefully, the above solutions have resolved your fatal device hardware error. If you're still having issues, read through the FAQs below.

1. What is a fatal disk error?

A fatal disk error refers to an issue with a computer's hard drive or other storage device that prevents access to it. This can be caused by various factors, such as data corruption, physical damage to the drive, or logical errors. When this occurs, the computer typically displays an error message and attempts to automatically fix the problem. If the issue cannot be resolved, the computer may shut down or restart on its own to prevent further damage. In some cases, a fatal disk error can lead to data loss. Hence, it is crucial to ensure regular backups of all important files and data.

2. Can damaged hard drives be recovered?

In short, the answer is yes – a damaged hard drive can be recovered. The steps to recover files from a corrupted hard drive include:

Scan the hard drive partition. After the scan is complete, look for the lost files on the hard drive. Select the desired files that were lost from the drive and click Recover.

3. How do I know if my hard drive is failing?

Here are the most common signs of a failing hard drive:

• Overheating
• Unusual sounds
• Damaged data, files, and folders
• Frequent error messages
• System crashes
• Blue Screen of Death errors