Share this article

Improve this guide

Fix: The Request Failed Due to a Fatal Device Hardware Error

Avoid using a faulty USB cable to avoid this issue

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

Some of our readers have recently reported that they encounter The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error message while trying to open anexternal hard drivefrom their PC.

In case you are experiencing similar issues, don’t worry. You can work your way through any of the potential fixes provided in this article to resolve the issue.

Why did the request fail due to a fatal device hardware error?

There can be several reasons why you are getting the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error message. Below are some of the possible triggers;

Now that you know some of the reasons behind the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error message, let’s proceed to how you can fix this problem.

What can I do if the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error?

Before engaging in any advanced troubleshooting or settings tweaks, users should ensure they perform the following preparatory checks;

Having confirmed the above checks, if the problem persists, you can try out any of the advanced solutions provided below one after the other.

1. Check your Hard drive’s SMART status

Windows has an inbuilt feature known as SMART analysis which analyzes your hard drive/SSD to determine whether the hard drive is damaged and also know the extent of the problem.

2. Run the CHKDSK Scan

If the SMART analysis does not fix the error, try the Check Disk Utility. CHKDSK is a built-in tool that identifiesissues with computer storage devicesand bad sectors and recommends ways to fix the errors.

3. Update Device Drivers

Alternatively, you can choose to reinstall the affected driver by uninstalling it and then restarting your PC.

4. Initialize the Hard Disk

Your hard drive can be activated by initializing it. This should remove any obstacles that could be causing the error on your external hard disk.

5. Format the Hard drive

If none of the above fixes works, you can consider formatting your external hard drive. This will clear all the data stored on the drive, but, it will certainly clear the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error message.

In case you need further assistance on how to fixexternal hard drive errors, you can explore our dedicated guide.

That’s it on how to fix the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error whenever you encounter it on your PC.

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this issue, do not hesitate to use the comments section below.

Fix: The Request Failed Due to a Fatal Device Hardware Error#

Why did the request fail due to a fatal device hardware error?#

What can I do if the request failed due to a fatal device hardware error?#

1. Check your Hard drive’s SMART status#

2. Run the CHKDSK Scan#

3. Update Device Drivers#

4. Initialize the Hard Disk#

5. Format the Hard drive#