My machine is a Dell Inspiron 1520 Laptop

I have Linux OS (GNOME 2010/11) installed. (not istalled by me) I do have a CD re-installation disk

It was working fine but now fails to boot up

It states:- An error occurred during file system check
Dropping you to a shell
The system will reboot when you leave shell
Give root password for maintenance
(or type Control-D to continue

I do not know what root password means or how you can tupe anything when it fails to boot.

I pressed Control-D but it merely reboots with the same outcome.

I am Linux illliterate so would not understand any instructions using abbreviations.
Can I uninstall (how?) And use my disk to re-install?

I would like to retain my downloaded photos on current application

I cannot help with your problem, but yes, you can re-install with your disc. However, you would loose the data on your hard-drive. So if you can, wait until someone can suggest a solution.

Google suggests the root password is root
Type it in, hit enter. It won't show, and it won't display asterisks like some passwords. At that point you will be the super user (Administrator in Windoze speak).
However to do anything, you will need how to use fsck.

I had a look at downloading Chrome OS for a test under VBox, but it was going to take 244 minutes, so I didn't bother. Google being pricks again/still.
Hopefully some-one who has used it will also respond.

IN linux system(fedora and opensuse),you can run fsck for the hard disk device.Then try to reboot.

Thanks to both of you. I do not understand this FSCK. No one tells you how to enter it manually as it requests. I mean, all you have in front of you is a black screen, with lots of white text, some of it telling you waht has failed.

Mine says you can leave out the p and the r. I can't see how you can do anything when the screen displays an unfinished boot. Also, have the hyphons to be used, are do they merely act as separation

I did not know that 'Chrome' had anything to do with Google Chrome.

I will try this 'FSCK' (Is the 'S' a mis-typed 'U'?) if someone will explain in easy to understand terms.

Thanks again

Jimtony Thanks, I guess you must have answered my problem before reading my last response. I have NO IDEA what FSCK is or how to apply it.

Also, you mention Fedora, and opensuse. Am I to understand OS stands for 'opensuse'? I have absolutely no idea of all the names for the various Linux applications.

Thanks all SORRY GUYS that should have read my Linux is OS GNOME NOT CHROME

If someone would please explain this FSCK - I mean how to apply it

Mucho thanks

FSCK is filesystem check. There are numerous posts here at LQ explaining it and how to run it. Click Search under the Main Menu on the right of this page and search how to run fsck. Do this before doing anything else so that when you get to the root prompt.

Any changes to hardware or software just prior to it failing to boot? That might help someone to help you with your problem.
When you are at the prompt where it asks you to type the root password and make sure you have your CAPS LOCK off and as indicated above, you will not see anything when you type it in on screen.

In the context above, OS stands for operating system.
If you didn't install Chrome on the computer, who did?
You should be able to use your "reinstallation disk" to install again. You should be able to save your data to a DVD, flash drive, external hard drive using the installation CD. How much data (in megabytes, gigabytes do you have)?
Try searching how to run fsck, see if that works and post back with results.

Read HERE...
Hope it helps

Ceh382

I know it may seem stupid but I have little idea how to action those instructions. I mean the exact steps showing what exactly I should enter, and where I should enter it. I cannot move the curser.

My boot ends with 'an error occurred during system check

Give root password for maintenance (what is the root password for maintenance?)
Or type Control-D to continue.

When I type in any of the items on each stage - starting with 'give root password for maintenance all that happens is that it enters another line repeating the last instructions. This goes on with each stage.

In other words, what I type is not showing and even when I type the last entry requesting it to reboot - it doesn't.
To reboot I have to Ctrl alt del

There is no way to know for sure what the password is. There could be a default password, as mentioned in an earlier post try root. Other possibilities I found doing a Google search...chronos, chrome, chromeos and facepunch.

But this was when I thought my Linux was 'Chrome'. That was an error I corrected to 'GNOME' Linux OS GNOME

I do not think it has anything to do with Google

Gnome is a desk top environment that runs on a Linux OS, it is not the OS.
The truth is the original installer of the Operating System could have set the root password to anything he/she wanted. There is no way to know for sure what it might be.
Your best option may be to reinstall the OS and start over.

If it was working fine before, you should have seen the name and/or logo of the system when booting. Posting that info might help someone to help you. If you have an installation disk, I would certainly expect the name of the operating system/distribution to be on it?
Were there any changes made to the computer before this problem occurred? Hardware? Software? Updates?