Error message: 'Warning: /sbin/fsck.ext4, doesn't exist...' Is this important?
 

Hello

I have Debian Jessie installed onto a USB.
However, every time I update the OS I get the following error message:

This is usually preceded by the following message:

So this seems to suggest I may have 2 problems.
Since the OS continues to operate fine, I haven't given it much attention.

But now I'm wondering if this is serious and also what I can do to rectify these problems.
Can anyone offer some advice?
Many thanks.

In my Debian Testing, I have fsck.ext2, fsck.ext3, fsck.ext4. All of which are linked to e2fsck in the same directory. So issuing the command above as root or sudo will fix the problem. If you look in /sbin, you'll come to find 3 other file checkers who's name starts with "fsck" are linked to the utility that handles them all, like fsck.vfat is linked to fsck.fat

EDIT: Installing or reinstalling these two packages will ensure all ext file checkers are properly installed and linked: e2fsck-static e2fsprogs

For the firmware issue, make sure the package firmware-realtek is installed as root or sudo with command: apt-get install firmware-realtek
If it comes back saying it's already installed, try reinstalling as root or sudo with command: apt-get install --reinstall firmware-realtek

Thank you for your replies.

Guess what, the USB will no longer load the OS.
I've just lost an entire OS.

The USB is not even recognised when I try to access it via an OS on my harddrive.
How can this catastrophic failure have occurred just when I mention the error messages on LQ?

The USB is a Sandisk.

USB sticks are not designed to run a full install from; the constant I/O wears them out.

OK, that's fair enough.
I did notice the 'apt-get update' process taking a longer time recently.

I think I put 'noatime' in the fstab file.
However, since the USB is not seen as an SSD, I don't think it can take advantage of any TRIM features on the OS.

It was a 15gb USB. So does this mean I can expect double the life span with a newer 32gb USB with full Debian on it?

Also, do you know where I can get Debian 9 for USB with persistence?
In the past, persistence has always been a hit and miss thing...

noatime isn't a "TRIM feature". It's just a different way of setting up your filesystem, reducing writes.
On my distro it's been the default for years, regardless of installation medium.

no.
there are quality differences between USB sticks but i'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with size.
that's all i can say about that.

https://www.startpage.com/do/dsearch...th+persistence
the hit and miss was likely due to how you set it up.

If you're willing to learn something new, from a running installed Debian, you can install package live-build. With live-build you can build your own custom Debian live. Debian live is only available for download with Debian stable, I built a custom Debian Testing live with my software preferences included. The live manual linked above can also be installed in PDF or HTML, when I installed the PDF package I had to go to /usr/share/doc/live-manual/pdf to get it and extract to /home/user. The live manual will also show how to create/enable persistence partition/file.

For added information, I created a 15GB Fat partition on a 64GB USB key, then the remaining space a NTFS data partition. From Windows, I extracted AIO boot to the Fat partition and allowed it to install Grub2 legacy to the key. Then migrated into the Fat partition and clicked on AIOCreator.exe, select "Integrate" to set set up Debian Live, it noticed I added persistence feature and asked if I wanted to create a persistence file of various sizes to select from. It took a while to create the 4GB file, but it works a treat. I also integrated, WindowsPE SE 7, WindowsPE SE 8.1 dual boot 32-64 bit, WindowsPE SE 10, Gparted live, and a few more ISO files. AIO adds every one to a menu when integrated, when you boot the key you select which ISO to boot.

It created successful persistence for every Linux I integrated that supported it except Fedora. But it's nice having a multi function key with many utilities and lots of space for Data and portable apps for the Windows PEs.

I update Debian Testing twice a week, last night there were no updates, this typically only happens on a 2 year cycle. Debian 9 will soon be "Old stable"

That's an interesting point.
Since there is a performance advantage to the harddrive (i.e. there are no updates written to the harddrive every time a file is read) - I would've thought 'noatime' would be more frequently discussed on this site.

There is the initial quality difference between slc/mlc/tlc USB flash drives.
Most of us will have the same quality mlc (multi-level cell) USB flash drive.

Wikipedia says the circuitry connecting the flash memory to the USB interface can vary in quality.
So if a USB stick dies, it may not be that the flash memory is 'worn', but the circuitry in the USB has fizzled out due to wear.

Also, wear to the flash memory is mitigated by 'wear levelling' software. And that's proprietary.
So some brands may have better wear levelling than others.
That's all I know about quality differences between USB sticks.
However, a 32gb USB should wear away twice as slowly as a 15gb USB... prima facie.

Many years ago people were migrating from MS Windows to Linux with the advent of multi-boot live USB sticks.
This was obstructed somewhat when the Sandisk Extreme (a very popular USB at the time) showed itself as a HDD instead of a USB on Windows.
So you couldn't install the Linux multi-boot software onto your Sandisk.
Some guy on some forum showed an email reply he actually received from Sandisk stating the Extreme USB shows up on Windows as a HDD (and not USB) because MS had instructed Sandisk to do that!
For normal opsec, all my new USBs are now a different brand. And made in China.

Thanks for the link.
It was helpful in introducing the Startpage search engine.
After Snowden, I began to doubt Ixquick (Startpage) but since it's still around - I'll use it as a Google alternative.
Since Google considers your geolocation to inform its search, Yandex can sometimes offer more illuminating search results.

Thank you this is very helpful.
I was surprised I could install a full Debian OS onto my USB stick - and for about a year it worked fine!
But I think live build with persistence is the natural OS for a USB.