Error on boot - filesystem check and superblock issues - what to do
 

Hi

On my Mandriva 2006 discovery I started updating but rpmdrake crashed while installing updates. I did not complete the install, but now, during startup I get this text:

"""""""""""""""""""""""
Checking Root Filesystem
WARNING Your /etc/fstab does not contain the fsck passno field. I will kludge around things for you, but you should fix your /etc/fstab as soon as you can.

Fsck.ext2: Is a directory/:
The superblock could not be read or does not describe a correct ext2 filesystem. If the device is valid and it really contains an ext2 filesystem (and not swap or ufs or something else), then the superblock is corrupt, and you might try running e2fsck with an alternative superblock: e2fsck -b8193 <device>

while trying to open /
Failed to check filesystem. Do you want to repair the errors (Y/N) (beware you can lose data)

(here I press n)

*** An error occurred during the filesystem check
*** Dropping you to a shell: the system will reboot
*** when you leave the shell

Give Root Password for maintenance
(or type Control-d to continue)
""""""""""""""""""""

I dare not press Y to repair or give Root password for maintenance until I have some idea what is going on.

Any help is appreciated.

I usually like to check things from Knoppix. See if it'll mount the partition, and also use it to run a fsck with an alternate superblock.
Much more friendly interface.
Run mke2fs with "-n" to find out where the alternate superblocks are (most likely to be anyway).