tune2fs mount-count: is it disabled by default (set to -1).

Solution 1:

You shouldn't panic just yet, instead, let's have a look at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FilesystemTroubleshooting:

"There are 4 ways the fsck tool usually gets run (listed in order of frequency of occurrence):

1. it runs automatically during computer bootup every X days or Y mounts (whichever comes first). This is determined during the creation of the filesystem and can later be adjusted using tune2fs.
2. it runs automatically if a filesystem has not been cleanly unmounted (e.g.: powercut)
3. user runs it against an unmounted filesystem
4. user makes it run at next bootup "

Note the number 2 in particular:

"If a filesystem has not been cleanly unmounted, the system detects a dirty bit on the filesystem during the next bootup and starts a check. It is strongly recommended that one lets it finish. It is almost certain there are errors on the filesystem that fsck will detect and attempt to fix. Nevertheless, one can still interrupt the check and let the system boot up on a possibly corrupted filesystem."

In the end, it is the matter of convinience vs extra-caution - always a fine balance.

PS: It's a good idea not to rely on fsck alone, but also keep regular backups of all data you don't want to lose.