the root filesystem requires a manual fsck

Question

When I try to boot my laptop, I get this message: /dev/sda1 contains a file system with errors, check forced. Inodes that were part of a corrupted orphan linked list found.

/dev/sda1: UNEXPECTED INCONSISTENCY; RUN fsck MANUALLY. (i.e., without -a or -p options) fsck exited with status code 4 The root filesystem on /dev/sda1 requires a manual fsck

Busybox v1.22.1 (Ubuntu 1:1.22.0-15ubuntu1) built in shell (ash) Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) _

when I write: fsck/dev/sd1 I get the message: /bin/sh:fsck/dev/sd1

What shall I do???

I suggest you run fsck from a live CD as well. In addition, as a caution, when you have to run fsck manually it is sometimes a sign your hard drive is failing. If you have not done so already, make a back up of any data you do not wish to loose ASAP, and run smartmontools - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Smartmontools — Panther, Dec 08 '17 at 16:16
Possible duplicate of [fsck error on boot: /dev/sda6: UNEXPECTED INCONSISTENCY; RUN fsck MANUALLY](https://askubuntu.com/questions/697190/fsck-error-on-boot-dev-sda6-unexpected-inconsistency-run-fsck-manually) — karel, Sep 28 '19 at 20:37

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 08 '17 at 07:37

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You need space between command and argument. The command is fsck, and the argument is the device /dev/sda1. Try fsck /dev/sda1. Note that there is a space between fsck and /dev/sda1.

Additionally you may want to use fsck -y /dev/sda1 to answer yes automatically to any questions fsck asks.

answered Dec 08 '17 at 07:37

vidarlo

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thank you, I've done so. Now my desktop is black?? I wait – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 09:45
Nothing happens...what shall I do now? Help!! – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 10:03
Now I see: /dev/sda1:***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***** – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 10:13
and /dev/sda1: 2353330/4825088 files (0.2% non-contiguous), 17131265/19277824 blocks – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 10:14
Then you have fixed your file system. Run fsck once more, and reboot. – vidarlo Dec 09 '17 at 10:35
Now I see: e2fsck 1.42.13 (17-May-2015) /dev/sda1: clean 2353330/4825088 files, 17131265/19277824 blocks – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 10:54
Just reboot then. You can do this by pressing Ctrl-D, or typing `reboot` – vidarlo Dec 09 '17 at 10:56
it rebootet but I cannot open anything – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 11:08
now I can open nearly everything, firefox has a problem – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 11:27
thanks a lot for your help!!! I must still learn a lot about ubuntu – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 11:27
If you have a problem with Firefox, I suggest you make a new question for it :) – vidarlo Dec 09 '17 at 11:33
sorry, after rebooting I couldn't start any program. That's why I turnt off my laptop. Now I turned it on again and it didn't boot again...now it sais: Busybox v1.22.1 (Ubuntu 1:1.22.0-15ubuntu1) built in shell (ash) Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands. I despair of this laptop... (initramfs) _ – Silke Dec 09 '17 at 13:59
In that case, I'd check the disk, like [panther mentioned in a comment](https://askubuntu.com/questions/984313/the-root-filesystem-requires-a-manual-fsck/984321?noredirect=1#comment1583825_984313) – vidarlo Dec 09 '17 at 14:00
you saved my day – Developer Jul 13 '22 at 23:27

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 16 '18 at 13:17

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Alternatively you use fsck /dev/sda2; then type y to any question fsck asks; there must be a space between fsck and /dev. look keenly at the GNU of your Ubuntu if its /sda1 or sda2 reported having the error. fsck the specific sda which is reported to be having the error it works!

edited Nov 16 '18 at 13:17

abu_bua

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answered Nov 16 '18 at 11:30

Koech

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the root filesystem requires a manual fsck

2 Answers2