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fsck – Checks and attempts to repair errors in the file system

The fsck command is a file system utility that checks the integrity of a file system and attempts to repair any errors it finds. It can be used to check and repair a file system on a hard disk, USB drive, or any other storage device that uses a file system that is supported by Linux. fsck can be run on a mounted file system, but it is recommended to run it on an unmounted file system to minimize the risk of data loss.

Syntax

fsck [options] [device]

Examples

To check and repair a file system on the /dev/sda1 partition, run the following command:

fsck /dev/sda1

To automatically repair any errors found during the file system check, use the -a option:

fsck -a /dev/sda1

To force a file system check even if it appears clean, use the -f option:

fsck -f /dev/sda1

Options

The following table lists the available options for the fsck command:

Option Description
-a Automatically repair any errors found during the file system check.
-V Display verbose output.
-f Force a file system check even if it appears clean.
-n Do not make any changes to the file system.
-p Automatically repair any errors found during the file system check without prompting the user.
-r Interactively repair any errors found during the file system check.
-t Specify the file system type.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • If fsck reports errors that it cannot repair, it may be necessary to manually repair the file system or restore data from a backup.
  • Running fsck on a mounted file system can cause data loss or corruption. Always unmount the file system before running fsck.
  • If fsck reports that it cannot repair a file system, it may be necessary to run it in rescue mode or from a live CD to repair the file system.

Notes

  • The fsck command is usually run automatically during system boot to check and repair any errors in the file system.
  • fsck can be used to check and repair a variety of file systems, including ext2, ext3, ext4, XFS, and ReiserFS.

Related commands