FIX: IO1 Initialization Failed error in Windows 10

by Milan Stanojevic

Deputy Editor

April 30, 2020

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Computer errors are a common occurrence, and while some issues are relatively harmless, certain ones such as Blue Screen of Death errors can be more severe.

For example,  IO1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED, will crash Windows 10 and restart your PC.

Therefore it’s crucial to fix these problems as soon as you can, considering the fact that no issue is always resolved with the easiest troubleshooting step.

Use the solutions in this article to fix this issue.

How can I fix IO1 Initialization Failed error?

1. Update your drivers and Windows 10
2. Run the BSOD Troubleshooter
3. Run the SFC scan
4. Run DISM
5. Check the hard drive
6. Disable or remove the problematic software
7. Use Command Prompt
8. Change Disk Controller mode from RAID or AHCI to SATA/ATA
9. Check your hardware

Solution 1 – Update your drivers and Windows 10

Drivers are an integral part of every operating system since they allow your PC to utilize your hardware.

In case a certain driver isn’t working properly or it has compatibility issues with Windows 10, you’ll have to update it in order to avoid getting BSoD errors.

To update a driver, you just need to visit your hardware manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device.

It’s important to update as many drivers as you can, so be sure to download drivers for your motherboard, chipset, and every other major component.

Alternatively, you can also use Device Manager to download all the necessary drivers, but it’s usually better to download the drivers manually directly from the manufacturer.

Downloading drivers is important, but it’s more important to keep Windows 10 up-to-date with the latest updates.

Many updates bring new features and security improvements, but most importantly, these updates fix many bugs and compatibility issues with certain hardware and software.

Since hardware and software compatibility is the common cause for BSoD errors such as IO1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED, you can see why it’s important that you update Windows 10 on a regular basis.

Update drivers automatically

Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically.

Using an automatic driver updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up-to-date with the latest drivers.

Tweakbit’s Driver Updater (approved by Microsoft and Norton Antivirus) will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions. 

After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.

Here is a quick guide on how to use it:

1. Download and install TweakBit Driver Updater
2. Once installed, the program will start scanning your PC for outdated drivers automatically. Driver Updater will check your installed driver versions against its cloud database of the latest versions and recommend proper updates. All you need to do is wait for the scan to complete.
   
3. Upon scan completion, you get a report on all problem drivers found on your PC. Review the list and see if you want to update each driver individually or all at once. To update one driver at a time, click the ‘Update driver’ link next to the driver name. Or simply click the ‘Update all’ button at the bottom to automatically install all recommended updates.
   
   Note: Some drivers need to be installed in multiple steps so you will have to hit the ‘Update’ button several times until all of its components are installed.

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Did you know that the majority of Windows 10 users have outdated drivers? Be a step ahead using this guide.

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Solution 2 – Run the BSoD Troubleshooter

In case updating your drivers didn’t get the job done, let’s try Windows 10‘s built-in troubleshooting tool. This tool is designed to deal with various system issues, including the BSoD problems.

So, it might be helpful when resolving the IO1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED error, as well.

Here’s how to run Windows 10‘s built-in troubleshooting tool:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
2. Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.
3. Select BSoD from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.

Note: If you are running on update version 1809 or later you will need to access the BSoD troubleshooter on the Microsoft website, go to the bottom of the page and answer the questions available there for possible fixes.

Does the troubleshooter fail to load with an error? Follow this useful guide and fix it in just a couple of simple steps.

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Solution 3 – Run the SFC scan

1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Enter the following line and press Enter: sfc/scannow
3. Wait until the process finishes (it’s a longer one).
4. If the tool finds a corrupt system file, it will automatically repair it.
5. Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

The System file checker is a command-line tool that basically scans through your system searching for potential issues. If a corrupted system file is a problem, this tool will automatically repair it, and the problem will be resolved.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look at this guide.

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scannow command has stopped before the process finished? Don’t worry, we’ve got an easy fix for you.

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Solution 4 – Run DISM

We’ll walk you through both standard and the procedure that utilizes the installation media below:

• Standard way

1. Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Paste the following command and press Enter:
   • • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
3. Wait until the scan is finished.
4. Restart your computer and try updating again.

The DISM tool re-deploys the system image and resolves potential issues along the way. So, it’s possible that running DISM will also resolve the IO1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED error.

Does it seem that everything is lost when DISM fails on Windows? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.

• With the Windows installation media

1. Insert your Windows installation media.
2. Right-click the Start menu and, from the menu, choose the Command Prompt (Admin).
3. In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
   • dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
   • dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
4. Now, type the following command and press Enter:
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
5. Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows 10 installation.
6. After the procedure is finished, restart your computer.

FAQ: Read more about the IO1 INITIALIZATION FAILED error

• What is an IO1 INITIALIZATION FAILED error?

The IO1 INITIALIZATION FAILED error is a BSoD error and it occurs if the initialization of the I/O system failed. Usually, it’s because the setup routine has improperly installed the system, or a user has reconfigured the system.

• How can I fix the IO1 INITIALIZATION FAILED error?

You should start by updating your drivers and Windows 10, then run the Troubleshooter. If the problem persists, read our full solution.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in June 2016 and was revamped and updated in August 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.