how to check a filesystem in Ubuntu 16.04?

In Ubuntu 12.04 I was used to run the 'Disk Utility' and choose 'Check Filesystem'; its subtitle showed also 'and repair'. In Ubuntu 16.04 I have only found the 'Disks' utility that looks similarly but has no 'Check Filesystem' option, even for the superuser.


To check the file system on your Ubuntu partition...

  • 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

If for some reason you can't do the above...

  • boot to a Ubuntu Live DVD/USB
  • start gparted and determine which /dev/sdaX is your Ubuntu EXT4 partition
  • quit gparted
  • open a terminal window
  • type sudo fsck -f /dev/sdaX # replacing X with the number you found earlier
  • repeat the fsck command if there were errors
  • type reboot

Just some comments:

  1. To enter the GRUB menu press and hold SHIFT while booting
  2. In Recovery Mode better to choose "fsck - Check all file systems", see picture.

enter image description here

Great description here: How to Use ‘fsck’ to Repair File System Errors in Linux