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I dual-boot Windows 10 and Ubuntu 18.04 (on a HP Pavillion Touchsmart 15 Notebook PC 15-n090sa, bought in 2014, with a 1 TB HDD). Ubuntu is located on the /dev/sda6 partition. I boot into Ubuntu every day. About once every week, I see the following message:


/dev/sda6 contains a file system with errors, check forced. Inodes that were part of a corrupted orphan linked list found.

/dev/sda6: UNEXPECTED INCONSISTENCY; RUN fsck MANUALLY. (i.e., without -a or -p options) fsck exited with status code 4 The root filesystem on /dev/sda6 requires a manual fsck

Busybox v1.27.2 (Ubuntu 1:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.1) built-in shell (ash) Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) _


I enter "fsck /dev/sda6". It then lists a bunch of errors I don't understand. It asks if I want them fixed. I enter "y" for all of them, and things seem to be fixed. I am able to boot up Ubuntu. The only problem is that this happens again and again.

  1. Does anyone know what the problem is? Do you think it is a hardware or software problem?
  2. Does anyone know what I can do to fix it?

Please please please do not mark my question as a duplicate of this:

fsck error on boot: /dev/sda6: UNEXPECTED INCONSISTENCY; RUN fsck MANUALLY

That post does not contain an answer to my problem ("fsck /dev/sda6" does not permanently fix). It has also been closed because it "attracted low-quality or spam answers".

  • Have you installed a Windows driver that allows you to read/write to Linux ext2/3/4 partitions? – heynnema Apr 07 '19 at 18:38
  • Hi heynnema. I don't know. I don't even understand the question really. I'm not a very advanced user. On the Windows side, I have a basic install of Windows 10. I've never gone out of my way to install any extra drivers. If this is an essential issue, maybe you could tell me how I could determine if I have a Windows driver that allows me to read/write to Linux ext2/3/4 partitions? – TheBlackCrusader Apr 08 '19 at 17:04
  • Ext2Fsd is one such Windows driver. The easiest way to tell if such a driver is installed, is to look/ask if you ever transfer files between Ubuntu and Windows, and if so, how do you do it? – heynnema Apr 08 '19 at 18:06
  • I have never transferred files between Ubuntu and Windows. I checked, and Ext2Fsd is not installed on Windows. Here is a list of all drivers installed on Windows: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/hFg9rgYS4S Do you think one of them is causing a problem? – TheBlackCrusader Apr 08 '19 at 19:39
  • The driver list looks fine. Do you shutdown Ubuntu from the menu, or just turn off the computer? Do this command... grep -i sda /var/log/syslog* copy that output to the clipboard, and then paste it into paste.ubuntu.com, and give me the link, and I'll take a look at it.. – heynnema Apr 08 '19 at 19:48
  • Thanks so much. I always shut down Ubuntu by clicking on the power icon on the top right, then "Shut down". Here is the result of that log: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/s6v6bYfqkD/ Sorry, some of the output is in Dutch, because I use Ubuntu in that language. – TheBlackCrusader Apr 08 '19 at 20:16
  • No disk errors there... however... lets check the disk SMART data. Open the Disks app, select your hard disk, then go to the "hamburger" icon and select SMART Data & Tests, take a screenshot of the data portion, post it to imgur.com, and give me the link. Then go back and run the SMART tests. – heynnema Apr 08 '19 at 20:35
  • Here is the result of the short version of the test: https://imgur.com/a/3auY2L2 Let me know if I've done that right or not, or if you need something else. – TheBlackCrusader Apr 08 '19 at 21:37
  • That is amazing, and I can't wait to try it. Must I do these checks and updates from the Windows or Ubuntu side? – TheBlackCrusader Apr 09 '19 at 12:11
  • Probably from the Windows side. Let me know how it goes, ok? – heynnema Apr 09 '19 at 12:50
  • It's not going too well. I will try again soon, but am very busy at work. I'll let you know when I get a chance to try again. – TheBlackCrusader Apr 09 '19 at 21:26
  • Take your time. Do it right. What is your current BIOS version, and HDD version, using the commands that I gave you? – heynnema Apr 09 '19 at 21:34
  • Another user didn't care about errors and asked to get Y automatically sent to fsck: https://askubuntu.com/questions/590250/how-to-do-i-force-yes-on-fsck – WinEunuuchs2Unix Apr 09 '19 at 21:44
  • You only see the errors 20% of the times when you boot. Are these times you've rebooted out of Windows and then to grub and then into Ubuntu? Or were they times when you have performed a shutdown in Windows, powered off and then started Ubuntu the next day? If a pattern could be established to reproduce the problem it could be helpful. – WinEunuuchs2Unix Apr 09 '19 at 23:31
  • @TheBlackCrusader status please – heynnema Apr 14 '19 at 16:37
  • @heynnema: I used "sudo dmidecode -s bios-version" on the Ubuntu side and got "F.16". I used another command on the Windows side and got "Insyde F.16 13/11/2014". But I have decided to put the BIOS route on ice at the moment, because the Windows side crashes a lot. And apparently the computer will be bricked if it crashes while updating the BIOS. – TheBlackCrusader Apr 16 '19 at 05:40
  • @heynnema: I used "sudo lshw -C disk" on the Ubuntu side and got this: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/nPgfvQZrCX. I then tried many many many times to run that Seagate firmware update on the Windows side, but it never seemed to work. "sudo lshw -C disk" always gave the same result. I opened up my computer, and found that my HDD looks like this: https://imgur.com/a/tcuEC6T. It looks like it's not Seagate after all, but HGST. I will see now if I can update the firmware. Thanks. – TheBlackCrusader Apr 16 '19 at 05:40
  • @WinEunuuchs2Unix: Sending Y to fsck automatically seems to be a workaround rather than a solution. It's possible that the HDD is failing, and I want to address it.

    I rarely boot into Windows. All the times that I get these errors are from when I have performed a shutdown in Ubuntu, powered off, and then started Ubuntu the next day.

    – TheBlackCrusader Apr 16 '19 at 05:45
  • Lets check your hard disk. Maybe there is a problem there. Give me a few minutes to update my answer, and then you can follow it. – heynnema Apr 16 '19 at 12:34
  • Tell me how/when your Windows crashes. It may all be related. Your disk is kind of old. – heynnema Apr 16 '19 at 12:40
  • SMART data: https://imgur.com/a/BZ42ZpR.

    Results of Extended SMART self-test: https://imgur.com/a/hov0Qlz.

    Syslog: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/JfjmxCX363.

    – TheBlackCrusader Apr 20 '19 at 13:53
  • Windows crashing: paste.ubuntu.com/p/TmpTxKsYdq I downloaded the WinDFT application and user guide and went to use it. But I can't: Windows crashes every time before I have had a chance to use it. – TheBlackCrusader Apr 24 '19 at 10:54
  • @heynnema you have been so kind and patient with all of this. Have you had a chance to take a look at this? – TheBlackCrusader Apr 26 '19 at 10:08
  • Sorry for the delay. I missed your last few comments as they didn't start with @heynnema (that's important for me to get notified). Let me go and look at your log files. I'll be back. – heynnema Apr 26 '19 at 14:08
  • @TheBlackCrusader Please see Update #2 in my answer. Report back. – heynnema Apr 26 '19 at 14:48
  • @TheBlackCrusader status please – heynnema Apr 27 '19 at 22:13
  • @heynnema: 1. I reset the power manager, but I will have to wait some days to see if this affects operation. – TheBlackCrusader May 01 '19 at 23:28
  • I don't know where to find the disk/disk controller settings. I searched all through the BIOS, and there was nothing. But from the following image, I think it is ATA: https://imgur.com/a/bu5pEN7. Please tell me how to do this if this isn't right. I was able to reset the BIOS to factory defaults, but I will have to wait some days to see if this affects operation.
  • – TheBlackCrusader May 01 '19 at 23:31
  • I don't know how to perform a memtest. This was part of the GRUB menu but it is not now. I don't know how to do this from a live CD/USB. I can't download from those websites because the programs work in Windows, and my Windows crashes too much. However, I did find some diagnostics in the BIOS. I chose "extended memory test", and after about 1 second, it failed, I think citing the memory module as the problem: https://imgur.com/a/hqKJahB. Please provide more information on how to do a memtest from Ubuntu (if this is important).
  • – TheBlackCrusader May 01 '19 at 23:34
  • To run memtest, you don't need Windows. Just go to the 2nd link that I gave you, download it, and install it on a USB flash drive. Boot to it and run memtest. Depending on your memory configuration, it may take a few hours... or fail quickly like your internal testing did. Good job! – heynnema May 01 '19 at 23:44
  • See https://www.memtest86.com/technical.htm for instructions on how to build and run the free version. – heynnema May 01 '19 at 23:48
  • Do you know your memory configuration? sudo lshw -C memory to find out. – heynnema May 01 '19 at 23:54
  • If we need to replace memory... https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/HP-Compaq/pavilion-touchsmart-15-n090sa – heynnema May 01 '19 at 23:56
  • Status please... – heynnema May 02 '19 at 16:10
  • @heynnema: Result of sudo lshw -C memory: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/D35gg79sfb

    I was finally able to run the Memtest. It aborted after >10,000 errors, which I assume is very bad.

    Memtest86 report: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/JPxHkNDmqp Memtest86 full log: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/vcjsvzmwwx

    – TheBlackCrusader May 02 '19 at 19:51
  • Please see update #4 in my answer. Please remember to accept my answer if it was helpful. Thanks! – heynnema May 02 '19 at 21:07
  • Status update please. – heynnema May 03 '19 at 12:30
  • @heynnema TEST A: Memory Module 1 in Slot 1. 0 errors after 4 passes. Conclusion: Memory Module 1 and Slot 1 are good.

    TEST B: Memory Module 2 in Slot 2. Test aborted automatically after >10,000 errors. Conclusion: either Memory Module 2 or Slot 2 is bad.


    TEST C: Memory Module 2 in Slot 1 (good). Test aborted automatically after >10,000 errors. Conclusion: Memory Module 2 is bad.

    – TheBlackCrusader May 03 '19 at 16:56
  • @heynnema: What would you recommend now? Buying a new Memory Module 2? I try not to spend money if I don't have to. I don't use the laptop for gaming or anything really crazy. The most intensive thing I do would be watching Netflix on it. Would it be crazy to try to continue using the laptop using just Memory Module 1? – TheBlackCrusader May 03 '19 at 16:58
  • Good job! If money is tight, then yes, just remove the bad 4G card, and run with 4G. Check the crucial web link that I gave you, as single 4G cards are only about $25. – heynnema May 03 '19 at 17:05
  • @heynnema: A thousand thanks to you for your patience and expertise throughout all of this. You are a life-saver. I am in your debt. – TheBlackCrusader May 03 '19 at 17:16
  • @TheBlackCrusader glad I could help. You may need to do fsck once more at first reboot, to make sure it's clean, but should be ok after that. – heynnema May 03 '19 at 17:27