Disk Utility says: "Unable to read FAT (Input/output error)"

I have a Western Digital Passport external hard drive factory formatted as FAT32. It worked as advertised for over half a year before it suddenly stopped working and refuses to mount on the desktop (it is visible in /dev). No odd sounds and the disk or other problems, a different USB cable makes no difference.
The disk shows up as an empty disk in Windows 7 even though it is supposed to contain a small iTunes library. I have tried to repair the disk in Disk Utility in OS X 10.6.4. This is the latest attempt to repair the disk, copied from the log:
2010-08-10 15:58:44 +0200: ** /dev/disk2s1 (NO WRITE)
2010-08-10 15:58:44 +0200: ** Phase 1 - Preparing FAT
2010-08-10 15:58:44 +0200: ** Phase 2 - Checking Directories
2010-08-10 15:58:44 +0200: Unable to read FAT (Input/output error)
Does anyone have any recommendation on repair/recovery applications? I own a copy of DIskWarrior already but DW is a HFS-olny repair app…

Hi Niklas,
have a look at TestDisk http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
Regards
Stefan

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Restoring .dmg image from external to Mac HD in Disk Utility: "Unable to scan image (Input/output error)"

Hi guys,
So I've got a problem with restoring the image backup I did (using Disk Utility) of my 500GB HD on my MBP which was acting weird or maybe even crashed a few months ago. After creating the backup image and putting it on my external device, I installed Mavericks back to see if everything was alright (mainly the HD) and everything seems okay.
I did try restoring the backup image through disk utility before installing mavericks (thus erasing everything again on the HD) AND after. But nothing..
The whole process starts fine and then it starts scanning the image when after maybe a good 10-15min in I get a message that says that it was unable to scan the image. I tried verifying the disk(s), everything came out "OK". Also tried scanning it through Images > Scan image for Restore... with the same results.
While searching I've seen people getting messages like "Unable to scan filename.dmg (Invalid argument)" and "Unable to scan filename.dmg
(Internal error)" but none have (Input/output error)
The screen grab is below.
I also came across something about using terminal/commands but I'm not that savvy with it, especially considering that those there had issues with either mounting or trouble finding the image.
I've also tried moving the backup image to a different external device 2TB and also the desktop because I read it may have to do with the format of the externals or maybe free space. But THEN I would get a message saying
"The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "Mac HD Backup.dmg" can't be read or written. Error code -36"
Fyi ALL my externals are HFS+/Journaled and the backup image format was compressed.
I REALLY don't know what to do next. Was it the wrong move to create a dmg image? Have I lost everything? Is there still a way out?
If anyone can help, THANKS!
2012 MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.9.3)

Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider. You may have to leave the machine there for several days.
Back up all data on the internal drive(s) before you hand over your computer to anyone. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional—ask if you need guidance.
If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.
Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair
Apple also recommends that you deauthorize a device in the iTunes Store before having it serviced.
*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

I'm trying to backup a my harddrive with disk utility but I'm getting an error Unable to create Backup.dmg" (input/output error). Is there any other way to save my data? I believe my hard drive is failing or corrupt file. I can't boot up. Grey screen

I'm trying to backup a my hard drive with disk utility but I'm getting an error Unable to create Backup.dmg" (input/output error). Is there any other way to save my data? I believe my hard drive is failing or corrupt file. I can't boot up. Grey screen and spinning wheel. I've tried everything https://discussions.apple.com/message/20580424#20580424
any help will be greatly appreciated.

Check here. Also have you done a TimeMachine back up?
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570

Disk Utility says "drive can't be repaired, disk and restore your backed up files."

My Mac Book Pro froze yesterday and I had to force restart it. It had been showing me messages that my hard drive disk was full for a while and I was in the middle of transferring files to my external hard drive and I accidentally put a huge large file from my external hard drive into the trash on my laptop which makes me wonder if that means I added more GB to a computer that was already very full. Anyway, after freezing I restarted it and the desktop wouldn't load properly. The desktop picture was there, but folders on desktop did not appear, finder bar was missing and the dock was acting super slow and nothing worked when clicked on. Then the next few attempts were around the same result and eventually became stuck on the apple logo, spinning gear and a progress bar that was not loading at all.
Here's what I've tried so far:
Safe mode- nothing happens
Command + R - I am unsure how to work this since I can't seem to find an internet connection when it prompts for one. None of the internet connections have much signal and my own information doesn't seem to load since the gear spins to find the internet connection name and password I typed to load it but can't seem to find it. Perhaps I have the wrong internet information, but I don't think so.
I tried Command + S to use in single user mode and type in a command to help fix the drive, BUT, even though the black screen and white lettering mode did show up, it remained in a place where I was not allowed to type anything and the last thing written at the bottom of the screen was something about set up for bluetooth, I think. I tried this twice and both times it stopped in the same place and I could not type a command.
Disk Utility using installation dvd to verify and repair disk. Verify says disk needs repair and then repair has some red colored phrases: Invalid volume file count. (It should be 786374 instead of 786274) Incorrect number of thread records. And there was another problem listed but I do not remember it. Then, near the end of repairing it says: "Disk Utility stopped repairing Macintosh HD." It tells me it couldn't repair the disk and that I should back up as many of my files as possible, reformat the disk and restore backed up files.
That would be fine and dandy, but I have no idea how to back up my files and do all this. I have no idea how to exactly get the data off my hard drive. If someone does, please list a step by step guide for me on how to do so.
I have an external hard drive and I tried plugging in and selecting the hard drive and making a "New Image" to copy to the external hard drive destination, but it just stops a few seconds into it and tells me there is an input/output error. I tried read only, read/write only, compressed options for making a copy and all yield the same result.
In Disk Utility, I believe I have a partition -the Macintosh HD. I have listed on the left hand side: 320.07 GB Hitachi HTSS45.....etc. and below it in non-bolded, grey lettering it says "Macintosh HD."
The Hitachi, when clicked upon, shows the S.M.A.R.T. status as Verified and the Macintosh HD doesn't show much in details except for "Not mounted."
At one point, the Macintosh HD was in bold lettering and seemed to be mounted for a few minutes. When that happened, I was able to see the details reading: Mount Point: /Volumes/Macintosh HD, Capacity: 319.73 GB, Available: 11.92 GB, Used: 307.81 GB, etc.
I'm getting nervous to keep turning on and off the computer on force start and shut downs, especially since I have been reading up that the longer the computer is on, the more the hard drive is in use and the more chance for it to start deleting or overwriting my files. Is this true?
It's not mounted anymore since it was momentarily mounted. I just want to get my files off the disk and save them to my external hard drive. That is my main goal right now. What can I do?
Thank you in advance for your help!

If you want to preserve the data on the boot drive, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
1. Boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in the support article linked below, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
How to back up and restore your files
2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. Copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode
3. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.

Disk Utility - Input/Output error when creating disk image

Hello!
A few days ago I was unable to turn on my Macbook Pro, and was stuck on the white screen. I've been searching around quite a lot on this forum, and before I try fixing anything, I REALLY need to back-up my files! I just bought a 2TB hard-drive, which I have partitioned to GUID and Mac OS Extended (Journaled), (it perfectly works on another Mac).
I now want to attempt to create an image of my harddrive (Macintosh HD) onto my external drive (which is empty). I've tried doing this both in 'read-only' and in 'compressed', but about halfway through, I receive a message saying "Unable to create 04/2014 backup.dmg (Input/Output) error".
I saw on another similar post that I might want to install DiskDrill or DataRescue. I'm fairly sure this is impossible for me to do, since my screen is completely white, and I'm unable to access my desktop.
I can only access Disk Utility through pressing command+R when starting my computer. Hence, I need to successfully back up my files through Disk Utility...
I'm aware that my HD may be corrupted since this is happening, but there must be a way for me to put an image on my external HD?? A few days ago, when I clicked on Repair Disk it said "Impossible to repair: invalid node structure". But now, it says that "Macintosh HD appears to be OK". I have no idea what's changed... And I can still not start my computer past the white screen...
I'm very bad with IT and computers, and have extensively tried to fix this on my own, but I'm now stuck here, with this "input/output error"...!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
PS: I do not have Applecare, this is an old computer from 2009.

Thanks for your answer.
Yes, I thought that might be the case - but I'd taken my Mac and Logic disks to a Genius bar, and the 'Genius' had said he'd fixed the issue. I just wish he'd explained what he did and why he didn't replace the faulty disk(s)!
But is there any way around having the claim a disk, now I'm living abroad and my 'warrantee' has run out? It's going to be a pain in the fundament trying to claim a replacement set.

Disk Utility Input/Output Error

I am trying to make digital backups of some home movie DVDs I have created in the last few years with iMovie and iDVD. Every time I use the iMac to try and make a disk image with Disk Utility, it gets about halfway through the process and then I get an error message that says, "Unable to create "disk3.dmg" - Input/output error." I usually have better luck on my older Powerbook G4, though I sometimes get the same message there. Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening...and how I can fix it? Of note, I have tried different names for the disk image, but it doesn't seem to have any effect.

You're going to love this...
I had been getting the exact same error, even after I've done full image backups of my main volume just a few months before. Since I couldn't perform the image backup, I tried copying important files manually. When copying some 3000 files from my Documents folder, the *entire copy* failed...one file was corrupted and was unreadable. So instead of just asking if you want to skip and continue, the entire operation fails. I deleted the corrupted file, and booted from an alternate system, and voila! I successfully created an image of my main volume and saved it to an external HD in about 15 mins. No problems whatsoever. Unbelievable.
Make sure your DVDs are clean, ie, such that all the files can be read correctly.
What bugs me most, is that the bad file was not detected when I ran the Disk Repair utility on the main volume (from another booted drive of course).
What am I missing such that I can detect issues like this in the future?

I am in mavericks disk utility recovery mode as my mac book will not boot up & stays only on the grey apple screen. When I verify the disk I get open error5 :input /output error on Syst stuck on 1 minute pouring out over 50 error messages & still counting

I am in Mavericks disk utility recovery mode as my mac book pro will not boot up & stays on the Apple grey screen . When I verify disk permissions I get
Open error 5:"input/ output error" on syst with over 50 of this messages & still counting . Disk Utility says 1 minute
But this has been going on for over 10 mins .
I can not verify disk or repair disk .
I have tried to reinstall mavericks operating system but it says my hard drive is locked which is very strange .
Does anyone know what is going on here ?
My system looks like it has been totally corrupted . Thanks Andrew

Could be. The "lock" isn't actually looking for a password.
WARNING: This will completely erase the ENTIRE hard drive.
What you would need to do is boot to recovery > disk utility > select the MAIN drive on the left side > partition > change partition layout from CURRENT to 1 PARTITION > ensure on the right side it says Format : Mac OSX Extended (Journaled) then push APPLY.
Then if it will allow us, close the windows until you see the 4 options popup again and select "Reinstall Mac OS X" select the Mac HD and you should be good to go!

Help -- backup data with disk utility, input/output error.

My problem started when my MacBook Pro computer (with OsX) froze. When I restarted, the startup screen stayed on for a long time. Now, the startup screen stays on for a few seconds and then shuts off. I do NOT have a recent backup of my data. I have tried the following:
Went onto the recovery partition, used Disk Utility. When I verified the disk, it said it needed repair. When I tried to repair the disk, it said it could not be repaired.
I then tried to copy a disk image of the hard drive onto my external hard drive, but it says there is an "input/output error" and won't allow it. How else can I backup files on my computer at this point?

Had issue partitioning 2TB my passport drive, got input/output error while using disk utility.
Here is what I did to get my external disk back
In Disk Utility
1) Try to use erase option first, it failed
2) Try to partition the disk, failed as well.
3) Then try erase option again, then ... it worked !!

Disk Utility "Input - Output error" when attempting to erase Hard Drive

Hope that someone can point me in the right direction.
I bought an external hard drive for Windows a year back and loaded music onto it. I realized that I my MAC wasn't getting "Read / Write" privileges for the External Hard Drive, so I decided to try to Partition it and make it into a FAT readable device. It erased all data from my hard drive, but Disk Utility stopped the process and displayed an "input - output error".
Consequently, I can't initialize the external hard drive to make it usable on my MAC.
Can anyone point me in the right direction so I can "reformat" my external?
Thanks!

Hi all,
I'm having similar issues on a white macbook (2006 model). I ran into some trouble with it about a month ago, when on booting up, it showed only the folder with a question mark. Booting up from the original grey install DVD worked, so I thought the problem was most likely a faulty hard drive.
It's only after having this problem, that I came across this recall for possible faulty hard drives, that Apple offered:
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook/hd/repairextension/
Doh! Too late?
So, I got onto ebay and picked up a deal and received my new hard drive yesterday. I swapped out the original 80GB with 320GB, only to find the same input/output error described by the OP, here (also in a couple of other Apple discussion posts - see below).
Disk utility shows the new hard drive to be 2.3TB in size! Should be 320GB - but, this is also what others have described. See e.g.,:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16090313#16090313
I've run the extended testing from the CD (holding down 'D' on boot-up) and it reported no problems. Also, similar to others experiences:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16081818#16081818
So, what can the problem be?!?!?!?!?
In this post, JMPC suggests it has something to do with the size of the new internal hard drive....groan.....:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16145560?tstart=0#16145560?tstart=0
Can anyone confirm this?

Disk Utility Error (input output error)

Hi, i am trying to create an image file of my HDD using the disk utility in recovery mode. I have a 160 GB external hard drive that i would like to save it to. When I attempt to create it, it starts but fails part way through, giving an input/output error. Both the laptop and the external HDD were powered on the entire time. Thanks in advance for any help.

I received a generic error message, with no number. The external is 160 GB, and before i tried to create the .dmg I reformated the drive as MS-DOS (FAT) using the disk utility. I did notice that when I try to create a new disk image from Macintosh HD (my HDD) it gives a "File to large" error, I tried to create a new image from folder, then selected Macintosh HD under devices from the left hand navigation pane. Thanks for your continued help.

Hi, I have a hard disk failure so to recover my data I am using disk utility to restore the data on an external drive while booting from a second external hard drive. When I perform the operation it gives me an input/output error and stops. Any tips?

Hi, I have a hard disk failure so to recover my data I am using disk utility to restore the data on an external drive while booting from a second external hard drive. When I perform the operation and after having selected both my destination and source drives, the operation begins but soon fails due to input/output error. If I try to create an image of the drive it gives me the same error message. Any help would be much appreciated.

Disk Utility only creates a image of the drive, so it's no help getting exactly what you want, which is your files. If the file structure is messed up or the drive is failing then it's no help.
If you have a external boot drive and you can't access the internal non-booting drive though the typical Finder and windows to transfer your files via drag and drop methods, then you need to install Data Rescue on the external boot drive and it will do as best as it can to recover your files. (works on non-encrypted/non-Filevaulted drives only)
.Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive
Are you sure you have hard drive failure, or that OS X isn't merely not booting?
Because if the drive is working physically, then there is a host of fixes
..Step by Step to fix your Mac
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents#/

Disk Utility says of USB Drive - "This partition can't be modified" "This disk is not writeable and cannot be partitioned"

Several months ago I bought a 64GB PNY USB memory stick to transpord data quickly.
It seemed to work fine. I could format it as a Mac partition and use it. I hardly ever need
it so I just put it away.
Today I wanted to use it to put a file on and take it to the Kinko's/FedEx to print, and I
find I cannot mount it on any of my computers, iMac, MacMini or MacBookPro.
In Disk Utility virtually everything is greyed out.
Disk Utility says: "This partition can't be modified" "This disk is not writeable and cannot be partitioned"
If I try to mount it, it says "This disk cannot be mounted"
There is no physical read-only switch or setting on the disk that I can see and it is very small.
I has a Mac OS installed on it, so I wonder if that is a problem? I should be able to write over that
or reformat it I would think.

Thanks for these replies.
I've got regular time machine backups and just backed up some of my data by copying some key folders to an external drive. I'm bit paranoid about backup integrity and would ideally like to do another full backup to a different drive using a system other than time machine, in the event that something goes wrong with the time machine backup. Any recommendations on good and affordable backup software to do a backup of my TM backup?
One other question: I seem to encounter problems like this pretty frequently. I'd say once a year or so, my drive fails completely or gets near enough to failing that I have to wipe and restore. (I've never had a TM backup fail to work, though the last go around there were some hiccups which has led to my backup paranoia.) I've had this happen on multiple computers, so I'm becoming pretty convinced that the problem lies somewhere in my data. Is it possible (even likely) that there's something in my data causing this recurring problem? If so, is there anything I might be able to do to try and pinpoint and address this problem? I'd love to go one year without having to wipe/restore my machine!
For a while I thought I just had bad luck. But I think this is like the 4th or 5th time this has happened in the past 4 years and every time, I'm restoring from a backup, so I come back with the same data. It's the one constant since I've had 3 different machines over this same time period.

Disk Utility: Create image fails with input/output error

Starting to create an image and saving it into an external hard drive (MacOS extended Journaled).
It starts after less than 60 secs it comes out with an error : Failed to create the image (input/output error)

If you don't mind I'd like to discourage you from backing up a drive onto a disc image file no matter where you plan to save it. Disc image files can be very problematical when it comes to trying to restore the backup. Furthermore, you cannot boot from a disc image. If the disc image file becomes corrupted then you have no backup.
I would like to propose that you think about a better way to backup your drive. You can clone the drive to your backup drive. It's easy to do using Disk Utility's Restore feature. A clone backup is not only bootable but you have direct access to all the files on the backup.
In order to make a bootable clone open Disk Utility. Select Disk Utility Help from the Help menu. Search for +duplicating a disk+. Click on "Duplicating a disk" at the top of the list of articles. Follow the directions.

Disk utility 'input/output error' message?

I am "creating an image" of a DVD using disk utility (prior to making a copy on a blank DVD disk). Why am I now rec'ing an 'input/output error' message? I have already copied several other DVDs from the same author (with her permission, they are not copywrited.) w/o a problem.
What's going on? original damaged? an incorrect step on my part? some sort of space problem? ( I have tons of room on my iMac.)
Thanks for your help.

Take a look at Cinematize 2, I've used it with iMovie 06 and iDVD 08. It has several modes of converting the data. One mode is called "lossless".
For the job you're doing you may prefer to use iMovie 06 instead of iMovie 08 (I would).
iMovie 06 and iDVD 08 is a terrific combination.
Your workflow would go something like this.
Use Cinematize 2 to create a Quicktime file from the DVD.
http://www.miraizon.com/products/products.html
Important that file into iMovie 06.
From iMovie 06, share to iDVD 08 (assuming you want a DVD).

Disk Utility says everything's fine, but Install disk doesn't find my internal drive as a possible destination. When I startup with Command S, I get a looping "cannot mount errno = 19" message.

Disk Utility says everything's fine, but Install disk doesn't find my internal drive as a possible destination. When I startup with Command + S, I get a looping "cannot mount errno = 19" message.
Problem started when I used Tech Tool Pro 6 to "de-fragment volume". Had to cancel that process before it finished because I ran out of time. Thereafter, when I startup my machine normally, I get the gray Apple logo at first, but it changes to a prohibited symbol (circle with a slash thru it) and hangs.
When I startup holding the Option key, I can see my internal drive, but I get the same results as above.
When I startup using the MacBook OSX Install DVD, it does not find my internal drive as possible destination.
When I startup using the MacBook OSX Install DVD and then run Disk Utility, it finds my drive, allows me to "repair" and says everything is fine.
When I startup with Command + S, I get a looping error message "errno = 19" and cannot stop it to do anything else.
When I startup from Disk Warrior v4.4, it does not find my internal drive to do any repairs.
When I startup from Tech Tool Pro 6 and run the "computer check" diagnostics, everything passes but the Volume Structure, which fails at "Volume Extents (B-tree)." When I use TTP's "Tools" option to run "volume repair" it will show my internal drive and allow me to click the GO button, but nothing happens and nothing changes.
I have a Time Machine backup on an external USB drive, but for as long as the internal drive doesn't mount, I can't use the backup to restore.

It's a false report and should be ignored.
I would not rely on TT as I've already said earlier even before Grant posted similar advice.
I really think the Rigid Disk Block may be corrupted. This holds the partition map and could prevent a volume from being unmounted. Unfortunately, there is no way to fix that without repartitioning the drive which will remove everything. So, before going down this road I hope you have backups or can make a backup.
Drive Partition and Format
1. Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X.
5. Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

Disk Utility says: "Unable to read FAT (Input/output error)"

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