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I am using Ubuntu 11.10 32 bit. Yesterday, my computer had some line error during boot-time, showed 

EXT4/fd (sda1): previous I/O error to superblock detected

screenshot:

http:/i.imgur.com/TMow5UU.jpg

On this condition, my compie still could reached Desktop, but then, my Desktop showed a dialog window with unreadable-character.

screenshot:

i.imgur.com/YmljPwk.jpg

After that, it wouldn't show the Unity and some shortcut folders on Desktop became unknown-file-like

screenshot: https://i.stack.imgur.com/Og0re.jpg

Could any body tell me what is this and how could I get rid of it?

Takkat
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thom
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    This could be a sign of failing disk. First thing to do now would be to stop using the drive and backup your important data. Then look what S.M.A.R.T. tells you for this disk and add this to your question. – Takkat Mar 05 '13 at 11:26

1 Answers1

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For an unknown reason the file system has been scrambled. The recovery was possible, but some data has been lost.

With a little bit luck you can find some fragments of your lost files in the lost+found directory of the sda1 partition.

This is the time you should:

  1. Restore a backup to a different location (partition). I suggest to use also a different hard disk.
  2. Compare backup and recovered data.
  3. Identify recovered data which is newer as the same content in your backup and not scrambled. Add this data to your restored data.
  4. Replace sda1 with the restored partition.

If you doesn't have a backup, then this is maybe the last chance to create on of the recovered data.

Advice

But before further productive usage of the sda drive, you should ensure the integrity of the drive. For this task have a look at the commands smartctl and badblocks.

Please read the ubuntu community documentation for smartmontools carefully.

Note

If the partition doesn't contain important data, e.g. only the ubuntu system I suggest do reinstall the system. But before I would also do a backup (at least the /etc/ directories).

H.-Dirk Schmitt
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  • @h-dirk-schmitt : thank you for the answer. Aren't there any ways to keep using the disk, at least for some periode of time? Something like command to fix it or something. I don't mind with losing data, since it's a new computer and I haven't stored important data in there yet. – thom Mar 05 '13 at 11:38
  • @thom: if it's a new computer the drive may be healthy (check SMART!), if not you may get it replaced on warranty. In case the disk is healthy I would just reformat and reinstall 12.04 LTS as 11.10 will be at its end of life next month. – Takkat Mar 05 '13 at 11:52
  • @Takkat OK then, I got it now :D I'll check it first. Thank you.. :) – thom Mar 05 '13 at 12:02
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    see documentation link above in the updated answere – H.-Dirk Schmitt Mar 05 '13 at 12:09