disk0s2: I/O error

ctanbay · 10-26-2011, 11:23 AM

Hello,

I am running Snow leopard and after a system update I get a never ending spinning wheel on boot. Verbose mode indicates disk0s2: I/O error over and over and over again.

I rebooted off of my old hard drive (via USB, running 10.4.11) and run Disk Utility on the internal drive which says the drive is fine. I ran Disk Warrior; dirve is fine. I ran TestDisk; drive is fine. And yet when I try to boot off of it again the same thing happens.

I saw a post about executing: sudo chown root:admin /. and have tried that also with no success.

Tried reinstalling Snow Leopard and also no success.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks.

hayne · 10-26-2011, 11:34 AM

"I/O error" often indicates a hardware problem with the drive.
How old is this drive?

sjk · 10-26-2011, 06:26 PM

You could download a free demo copy of Intech SpeedTools™ Utilities 3 and run Scan and Repair Bad Sectors to scan for (but not repair, without purchasing the software) the drive for bad sectors. If it finds any (which will also trigger I/O errors) then replacing the drive ASAP is strongly recommended. Make a backup of the failing drive, if necessary, with the cavaet that some files might be damaged/missing depending on where the bad sectors are.

macsolver · 10-27-2011, 12:55 AM

Hi,

I would download and run the free to try SMART Utility from here:

http://download.cnet.com/3001-2248_4...02fcb369706534

This will interrogate the hard disk's in built error reporting log and find out what the hard disk thinks the problem is.

SMART Utility can also run the hard disk's inbuilt short and long tests.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Nick

sjk · 10-27-2011, 10:22 AM

Good idea, Nick.

ctanbay · 10-30-2011, 01:41 PM

Thanks everyone; SMART indicates failed drive

voldenuit · 11-11-2011, 07:03 PM

Scrape any unsaved data off that drive as fast as you can, then trash it and buy a new one.

Once you get I/O errors, that disk is done.

sjk · 11-12-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voldenuit


	Once you get I/O errors, that disk is done.

Not necessarily, based on personal experience. I'm still storing some expendable EyeTV video recordings on a disk that had a few I/O errors about a year ago. I used SpeedTools Utilities to identify and repair the bad sectors that were all being used by a single file. No more errors since then, including during a few full scans with STU.

DeltaMac · 11-12-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjk


	... I'm still storing some expendable EyeTV video recordings on a disk that had a few I/O errors about a year ago. ....

Also, notice this is not being used for important files, nor for the startup system.
@sjk - It looks like you're saying you don't really trust that drive - and that's the point here, I think.

sjk · 11-12-2011, 05:08 PM

I was mentioning a specific counter-example of voldenuit's "that disk is done". Yup, I don't trust and rely on that disk for storing any important data now. And anything I consider non-expendable on others is backed up.

pltnsgt06 · 08-10-2012, 07:29 PM

I am having the same problem but cannot get past the spinning wheel and apple. I have tried command+r, and holding c while restarting with the Mac OS X disk in the CD Rom but noting seems to help. Any Ideas?

macsolver · 08-13-2012, 02:40 AM

Hi,

What model of Mac and what Mac OS are you using ?

There are various modes of hard disk failure, and some involving the PCB on the HDD will prevent a Mac from booting from any attached device (from past experience), HDD, DVD/CD or USB/Firewire.

If the internal HDD has failed, command+r will be trying to start from the same failed HDD, although on another partition.

If the problem Mac is one which you can remove the internal HDD easily, I would do so and check it in another Mac using SMART Utility.
(SMART Utility will not work via USB or Firewire)

Regards,

Nick

10-26-2011, 11:23 AM	#1
ctanbay Prospect Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2	disk0s2: I/O error Hello, I am running Snow leopard and after a system update I get a never ending spinning wheel on boot. Verbose mode indicates disk0s2: I/O error over and over and over again. I rebooted off of my old hard drive (via USB, running 10.4.11) and run Disk Utility on the internal drive which says the drive is fine. I ran Disk Warrior; dirve is fine. I ran TestDisk; drive is fine. And yet when I try to boot off of it again the same thing happens. I saw a post about executing: sudo chown root:admin /. and have tried that also with no success. Tried reinstalling Snow Leopard and also no success. Any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

10-26-2011, 11:34 AM	#2
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 31,941	"I/O error" often indicates a hardware problem with the drive. How old is this drive? __________________ hayne.net/macosx.html

10-27-2011, 12:55 AM	#4
macsolver Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Redhill, Surrey, England Posts: 479	SMART Utility Hi, I would download and run the free to try SMART Utility from here: http://download.cnet.com/3001-2248_4...02fcb369706534 This will interrogate the hard disk's in built error reporting log and find out what the hard disk thinks the problem is. SMART Utility can also run the hard disk's inbuilt short and long tests. Hope this helps, Regards, Nick

08-13-2012, 02:40 AM	#12
macsolver Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Redhill, Surrey, England Posts: 479	More info please... Hi, What model of Mac and what Mac OS are you using ? There are various modes of hard disk failure, and some involving the PCB on the HDD will prevent a Mac from booting from any attached device (from past experience), HDD, DVD/CD or USB/Firewire. If the internal HDD has failed, command+r will be trying to start from the same failed HDD, although on another partition. If the problem Mac is one which you can remove the internal HDD easily, I would do so and check it in another Mac using SMART Utility. (SMART Utility will not work via USB or Firewire) Regards, Nick

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10-26-2011, 06:26 PM	#3
sjk Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 25	You could download a free demo copy of Intech SpeedTools™ Utilities 3 and run Scan and Repair Bad Sectors to scan for (but not repair, without purchasing the software) the drive for bad sectors. If it finds any (which will also trigger I/O errors) then replacing the drive ASAP is strongly recommended. Make a backup of the failing drive, if necessary, with the cavaet that some files might be damaged/missing depending on where the bad sectors are.

10-27-2011, 10:22 AM	#5
sjk Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 25	Good idea, Nick.

10-30-2011, 01:41 PM	#6
ctanbay Prospect Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2	Thanks everyone; SMART indicates failed drive

11-11-2011, 07:03 PM	#7
voldenuit Hall of Famer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 4,969	Scrape any unsaved data off that drive as fast as you can, then trash it and buy a new one. Once you get I/O errors, that disk is done.

11-12-2011, 05:08 PM	#10
sjk Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 25	I was mentioning a specific counter-example of voldenuit's "that disk is done". Yup, I don't trust and rely on that disk for storing any important data now. And anything I consider non-expendable on others is backed up.

08-10-2012, 07:29 PM	#11
pltnsgt06 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	I am having the same problem but cannot get past the spinning wheel and apple. I have tried command+r, and holding c while restarting with the Mac OS X disk in the CD Rom but noting seems to help. Any Ideas?