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fsck - file system check
Use fsck to check and repair a file system. **The file system must be unmounted when being check and repaired to prevent corruption! **
Checking Root File System
The root file system can not be unmounted and checked. Two possible options to check the system are:
- Force the Root Filesystem to use fsck during reboot, The Geek Stuff covers this well in, How to Force Check Root Filesystem using fsck During Reboot. A summary of key commands:
- The Root file system is automatically checked at certain intervals. To check this:
sudo tune2fs -l /dev/sda1 | grep -i check. - To force a recheck at the next reboot, create the file forcefsck. At the next reboot a fsck will be performed and the forcefsck file removed. Commands:
cd /sudo touch forcefsck
- Boot the system to a rescue file system. From the rescue file system the main boot drive may then be checked with fsck. (Further details not given.)
Some other file system tips:
- To check current mounted disks use “df -h”
- To check current disks use “sudo fdisk -l”. (This is a disk partition command. Be careful with use.)
- To check current disks use “sudo parted -l”. (This is a disk partition command, more modern than fdisk. Be careful with use.)
- To check directory size use “sudo du --max-depth=1 --all -h”
- The filesystem boot file is /etc/fstab, “sudo vim /etc/fstab”. (Be careful with editing this.)