An information handling system includes first and second input/output (I/O) controllers, a detector for detecting an I/O controller failure, and an I/O recovery unit. The first I/O controller adaptively controls a first and a second I/O slot. The second I/O controller adaptively controls a third and a fourth I/O slot. Lastly, the I/O recovery unit, responsive to a detected I/O controller failure, operatively couples/decouples the first and second I/O slot to/from the first I/O controller, operatively couples/decouples the third and fourth I/O slot to/from the second I/O controller, and operatively decouples/couples the first and second I/O slot from/to the third and fourth I/O slot according to an I/O failure recovery protocol, the I/O failure recovery protocol provided for adapting one of either the first and second I/O controllers to operatively couple to the first, second, third and fourth I/O slots as a function of the detected I/O controller failure.