Error with new partition, now I can't boot into Linux

Scruff · 10-09-2002, 08:33 PM

Here is the error from a partition I set up for mp3's etc. : /dev/hda8: the filesystem size (according to the superblock) is 2602522, the physical size of the device is 2570392- either the superblock or the partition table is likely to be corrupt!

Then it asks me if I want to run fsck manually. I don't know what fsck is. Can anyone walk me through this? If I have to, I can lose the data, its no big deal. As long as I can boot up!!

Thymox · 10-09-2002, 08:44 PM

fsck is the Linux equivalent of ScanDisk... except it's much more than that! If you can access the files in any way, then I'd try and make a backup of them somehow before 'fixing' anything. Although fsck will more be fine, if your partition table is changed you might find that you lose the data. Just as some advice, if this partition is ext2, then you might like to consider 'upgrading' to ext3 or another journalled filesystem so that fscks become a rareity.

Scruff · 10-09-2002, 09:11 PM

Thanks for the info. I was wondering about scandisk and defrag utils in linux. But I still need to know how to run fsck. I am not worried about the data from that partition as it is all backed up on a pile of cdroms.

Thymox · 10-09-2002, 09:21 PM

fsck is the Linux equivalent of Scandisk, and you do not need to defrag in Linux because of the way that the Linux filesystem(s) work.

Scruff · 10-09-2002, 09:31 PM

So what do I need to type when I try to boot and I get dropeed to this "do you wish to repair"? I mean, it says Y/N, but neither one do anything. It gives me a spot to enter a command, which I am not sure about.

Thymox · 10-09-2002, 09:33 PM

Try fsck /dev/hda8