Summary: The blog highlights “the request failed due to fatal device hardware error” and its impact. Here are the methods to quickly fix this error and steps to recover data lost due to this error using Stellar Data Recovery software.
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When “the request failed due to fatal device hardware error” occurs, your device turns inaccessible. You may usually encounter this error while attempting to transfer/copy your files and suddenly the Windows OS fails to recognize the input or the output devices. In addition, this error could also be due to a fault in the systems hardware, inappropriate configuration, loose connections, etc.
However few simple troubleshooting steps can resolve the issue in most cases.
Further, hard drives are bound to fail and no one knows when they will fail; hence, it is ideal to always have an updated backup of your valuable files. Further, if due to any reason you have lost your data, then, in that case, Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows is the perfect software to bring back the lost files. This data recovery software recovers your lost files in three simple steps!
One of the most basic troubleshooting method to fix the error is to check the drive’s SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) attributes. There are several other ways also to analyse the hard drive’s status like:
1. Check the SMART attributes
You can use WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line), a command-line and scripting interface to check the status of your hard drive health.
In the command prompt box, type in the following command:
“wmic diskdrive get status”
If your hard drive’s status is fine, you would see the status “OK” for the respective drive. However, if the Operating Systems faces some issues during SMART analysis, then it will eventually return the hard drive status as “Bad”, “Unknown”, “Caution”, etc.
If your hard drive’s status runs an error, then it is in the failing process and you should immediately backup all its content. Perhaps, you should consider replacing the failing hard drive with a new one before it dies.
*If your hard drive indicates a SMART error, then you should not wait for its complete failure instead minimize its usage and transfer all its data.
2. Run an Error Check
Disk Error Checking may solve the inaccessibility issue and further boost your computer’s performance. Run Disk Error Checking to check for bad sectors, lost clusters, file system errors, etc. To begin with:
If the system detects an error, then it prompts a message to scan the drive. Once the scanning is complete and there is an error, then you’ll be asked to either restart your system or schedule the error fixing on next restart.
3. Run Check Disk
Diskpart Utility eliminates various disk related issues and is one of the most common troubleshooting steps. It is an important tool for disk maintenance as it not only checks the hard drive that has hardware error but also repairs it as well.
Follow these steps to run Diskpart commands on your hard drive:
Syntax for Check Disk: CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]
a) Run Command Prompt and type: CHKDSK /F to fix file system errors.
b) In addition, type: CHKDSK /R to scan the hard drive for bad sectors.
4. Initialize the hard drive
If you’re unable to access your hard drive or the Operating System fails to recognize your device, then you need to initialize it. In addition, initializing the drive also eliminates “Disk Unknown Not Initialized” error.
Follow these steps to initialize the hard drive:
*Initializing would erase all data stored in the drive, proceed only when you have a backup of files.
You have to be cautious while operating with Command lines since if improperly used, you will end up zeroing your hard drive, which is the worst case scenario.
However, even in this worse case situation, you can still recover your data. Simply run Stellar Data Recovery Professional and retrieve all your important files. Moreover, as a recommendation, always backup your files and keep a tab on the warning signs of the drive failure.
Isha is a technical blogger and data recovery expert. She has experience in Windows data recovery. She writes about technical tips and tutorials.
Thanks for sharing all the troubleshooting methods to fix the failed request due to a fatal device hardware error.
Hi
My WD 2 TB My Passport USB hard disk when attached to my laptop is not showing in File explorer.
In Disk Management it is showing as Disk 1 Unknown Not Initialized. When I touch the hard disk, I can feel some sort of processing is going on. The flash light at the back keeps blinking when connected to laptop.
Sometimes I get some clinking noise from it.
I have installed Stellar Data Recovery Standard – Demo but in Connected Drives screen.
How can I recover my data. Please advice.
Go ahead, initialise the drive, and Quick Format it. Do not use other tools to format the drive. And be sure to check the ‘Quick Format’ option while formatting.
Post initializing and formatting the drive, run software. The drive will be shown. Select it and run Deep Scan to get back your data.
My external hard drive is showing ” not initialized” with 0 bytes when try to initialized, its showing error “the request failed due to fatal device hardware error” and also not visible into “This PC”
But my hard disk contains 300gb data.
This happens after installing Hetman Partition Recovery software, before installing this software, its showing RAW Drive and also visible in “This PC”.
Please help as i have some important data on my external hard drive.
Hey Pareen, here’s a guide you can refer: Read More
In addition, you can free download Stellar Data Recovery Premium software and open Drive Monitor. There, you will see the disk health status and SMART status. Further, inspect your drive for following,
Is it on and spinning?
Do you hear any screeching or clicking noise?
Does the hard drive stop after spinning for a while?
Is hard drive overheating when connected?
If the status is poor or there are SMART errors and you observe any issue with the drive spinning, reach us via Self Help and Support page for expert help and restore data.
Still says “the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error”. How to go about this? I have a WD elements HDD. Please help!
As the last resolution, did you try to format the disk? You may proceed with Quick Format and see if that fixes the drive. If it does, you can use the Stellar Data Recovery software to scan your WD elements HDD and get back your data from your Quick formatted drive. However, it may or may not recover all your data as troubleshooting methods that you have applied on the disk may have overwritten some files. So proceed with this at your own risk.
My Drive clicks for about 5 seconds then stops, but when i go to the File Explorer it’s not showing up so I tried Disk Management tool and I found it but it always says (Request Failed Due to Fatal Device Hardware Error) Then I tried all your steps but none worked… Please HELP!!
Hello Johan,
The fatal device error generally occurs when the hard drive on your machine is physically damaged or logical error. In case of logical error computer system either unable to access or perform read/write operation on it.
So as you said you are able to see your drive in disk management, then you can download the free trial version of Stellar Data Recovery Professional. It has an inbuilt utility named drive monitor. Which helps you to check the hard drive health and track all bad sectors in it. After that, you can remove them. It may resolve your problem. Thanks
I have a WD Passport that had a fatal device error straight out of the box. It doesnt have a warranty, I got it from a friend from work who didnt need it. There isnt anything on it. Is there any way I can wipe it, or reset it in some way that might fix this? Thanks!
Hello Dom,
We face fatal device error when storage drive on your computer is physically damaged and the operating system tries to access or perform operations on it. You may apply manual steps like Change the drive letter, updating the drivers, try connecting the device to the computer with different USB cables etc. which are mentioned above in detail. Thanks
i have a nvme m.2 ssd which has an OS (Windows 10) installed. I want to use it as external storage using enclosure. When I connect the enclosure to usb port, the system detects it and automatically installed latest driver. When I try to initialized the disk, I get this error ” The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error. This nvme ssd was working perfectly few days ago as a main drive (c:) on my laptop.
Hello Jose,
This error occurs when the hard drive or SSD on your computer is physically damaged, and the operating system is either unable to access or perform read or write operations on it.
This error condition is also seen in removable drives also, you can check your hard drive cable is faulty or not. If the cable is faulty, the data cannot be transferred. Hence, the computer prompts the error message.
Another reason for there are bad sectors in the disk. There can also be corruption and wrong mappings. So you can use Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows. Its inbuilt utility Drive monitor will detect all the bad sectors, and you can remove it.
Check it’s health with harddisk sentinel software. And if it’s good enough then try to connect the enclosure to your smartphone and format with it. i got mine fixed same way. It’s health is 50%
Hello Sir,
My WD My Passport Ultra is making intermittent clicking noise (sometimes).
We can feel like it is working when we touch the Hard Disk (some running noise like the fan is coming from inside).
My WD My Passport Ultra hard disk is not showing in “This Pc”
In Desk Management, it is showing as “Unknown Not Initialised”
I have used Stellar Recovery Professional software to make the recovery, coming as below
1st Slide – Select What to Recover -> I selected “Everything” then press “Next”
2nd Slide – Select Location -> My Hard Disk should be shown under “Connected Drives”, but unfortunately it is not showing up there.
So please advise me about how to recover my data
Hello Abdul,
In this case, I will recommend you to avail only Data Recovery Services. The most important thing is you should not use the drive anymore right now. You can contact our technical support team for data recovery services.
Contacts: Email ID: support[at]stellarinfo.com
Phone NO: +1-877-778-6087
Hello,
I click on the undetected unit I select the disk 2 that is the one I want to recover, it appears in size 0.00 KB and if I click on scan it does not do any action.
Hi Jorge,
In this case, I would like to recommend you to avail data recovery services for that. It seems like the drive is uninitiated or un-located. Can you please tell us, Does this drive make some noise?
hi there, I’ve been having this problem, along with the drive not being recognized by the PC at all. I was just reading comments and saw your reply because it stood out to me. My drive does make noise when I plug it in. Do you know how to fix my problem?
Hello John,
If your drive makes some noise, it is a reminder that your hard drive has experienced some physical failures. Whether the hard drive is making a continuous or intermittent clicking noise, the data stored on it is at stake.
So your first step would be to recover your data immediately with the help of Stellar Data Recovery for windows if it shows in disk management. If not so you should take technical support guidance for your hard drive. You can contact our technical support team via call or email.
Contacts: Phone: +1-877-778-6087
Email: support[at]stellarinfo.com