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Linux errno 5 (EIO) — Input/Output Error

Errorerrno

Overview

Linux errno 5 (EIO) indicates a low-level input/output error, usually caused by hardware failure or driver issues.

Key Details

  • EIO — generic I/O failure at the device level
  • Often indicates failing storage hardware
  • Check dmesg for detailed hardware error messages
  • Can also occur with NFS or network filesystem issues

Common Causes

  • Failing hard drive or SSD with bad sectors
  • SATA/NVMe cable or connector issues
  • Kernel driver bug for the storage device
  • NFS server disconnect or timeout

Steps

  1. 1Check dmesg output for disk error messages
  2. 2Run SMART diagnostics: smartctl -a /dev/sdX
  3. 3Run filesystem check: fsck /dev/sdX
  4. 4Replace the storage device if SMART shows failures

Tags

linuxerrnoerrno 5 eiotroubleshootingfix

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linux-errno-12-enomemLinux errno 12 (ENOMEM) — Out of Memory
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linux-errno-13-eaccesLinux errno 13 (EACCES) — Permission Denied
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Frequently Asked Questions

EIO often indicates hardware failure — check SMART status immediately and back up data.