Single-User Mode, fsck problem

Hello,

So I need to repair my disk, but am missing my OS cd, so I was reading about running "fsck" from the single-user mode command line. The problem is, when I'm in the command line from pressing cmd-S at startup, the command:

Shell> /sbin/fsck -fy

gives me the error "fsck is not recognized as an internal or external command, blah blah blah"

Also tried running without the /sbin/, without parameters, nothing works.

I'm running 10.6 Snow Leopard. Any ideas?

Thanks!

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Have a look at this article from Apple and the command line is /sbin/fsck -fy


Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

Yes I have thoroughly read that apple page, hence why I am trying to use fsck at all.

And yes, that is the command I used. the "Shell>" part that I typed is just the prompt that the command line is giving me.

Don't type Shell at all.
Reboot holding down the Apple and S keys, let the text load, then just type fsck -fy and hit the return key.
Keep doing that until it says the HD is ok.
Type reboot and hit enter. Done.

No, guys, I'm not typing "shell" in the command. That's the prompt. Meaning, before I type anything it says "Shell>". I'm a fairly experienced linux user (i.e. lots of command line), so I'm not stupid enough to try and type my own prompt. I only typed it in my first post to demonstrate the entire line that showed up on the screen.

Well that's very odd then. I've not ever seen that show when running fsck.
Have you run disk utility from your HD, and run permissions and disk repair?
Granted if there are issues it will not repair the disk, because you need the install disc for that, but it may help.

Are you using REFit by any chance. I stumbled upon this thread in google, cause I had the same problem. It turned out that exiting the shell (which is the REFit one) and selecting the mac boot disk, then immediately holding command-S gets you into the proper single user mode where you can then use fsck.

Good luck!

I had the same problem.
Have multiboot with refit and need to repair my disc with fsck.
The solution is to press f2 while the MACOS disc is selected in the refit boot screen.
Then you access the single user mode and perform a fsck -fy

recin said:

I had the same problem.
Have multiboot with refit and need to repair my disc with fsck.
The solution is to press f2 while the MACOS disc is selected in the refit boot screen.
Then you access the single user mode and perform a fsck -fy

Click to expand...

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