Boot Failed: Failed to start Remount Root and Kernel File Systems

I suddenly got my desktop machine to fail booting with no obvious reason. I haven't made any significant changes/updates since the last shutdown. Here is what happens:

Normal boot sequence throws me off to tty1. After successful login:

/usr/lib/ubuntu-release-upgrader/release-upgrader-motd: 31: /usr/lib/ubuntu-release-upgrader/release-upgrader-motd: cannot create /usr/lib/ubuntu-release-upgrader/release-upgrader-available: Read-only file system
/usr/lib/update-notifier/update-motd-fsck-at-reboot: 33: cannot create /usr/lib/update-notifier/update-motd-fsck-at-reboot: Read-only file system

Welcome to Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS! (<kernel_version>)

0 packages can be updated

0 updates are security updates

*** /dev/sda2 should be checked for errors ***


user@user:^$ _

Note: Switching to tty7 doesn't work. The screen blanks a little and then that's it

Going through recovery mode and running fsck gives:

Issuing the command shown (systemctl ...) through a root shell gives:

Any help is appreciated

Solution 1:

For me, this problem appeared after I installed a backup with wrong/old fstab UUIDs. I had to view the right UUIDs with sudo blkid and update my /etc/fstab file accordingly.

Solution 2:

Lets first check your file system for errors.

For Ubuntu 17.10 or older...

• boot to the GRUB menu
• choose Advanced Options
• choose Recovery mode
• choose Root access
• at the # prompt, type sudo fsck -f /
• repeat the fsck command if there were errors
• type reboot

For Ubuntu 18.04 or newer... (or if the above steps don't work for you)...

• boot to a Ubuntu Live DVD/USB in “Try Ubuntu” mode
• open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T
• type sudo fdisk -l
• identify the /dev/sdXX device name for your "Linux Filesystem"
• type sudo fsck -f /dev/sda2, replacing sdXX with the number you found earlier
• repeat the fsck command if there were errors
• type reboot