hard error

hard error

[′härd ′er·ər] (computer science) Any error that results from malfunctioning of hardware, including storage devices and data transmission equipment.

hard error

(1) A permanent, unrecoverable error such as a disk read error or circuit malfunction. Contrast with soft error.

(2) A category of errors that requires user intervention, including disk read errors, disk not ready (no disk in drive) and printer not ready (out of paper).