fsck.minix

fsck.minix [-larv] [-b superblock] device

-l
    Lists all file names.

-a
    Answer 'yes' to all questions.

-r
    Answer 'no' to all questions; repair non-interactively.

-v
    Verbose mode.

-b superblock
    Use alternative superblock.

device
    The block special device containing the filesystem to be checked and repaired.

The fsck.minix command is a Linux utility designed to check and repair inconsistencies in Minix file systems. Minix filesystem, mostly obsolete, were used in very early Linux distributions.
It examines the filesystem's structure, including the superblock, inodes, and data blocks, identifying and correcting errors such as corrupted metadata, orphaned inodes, and unlinked blocks. fsck.minix attempts to repair damage when detected, but in severe cases, data loss might be unavoidable.
It's important to unmount the partition before running fsck.minix to avoid further damage. The program includes options for automatic repair and interactive repair.
Use it carefully, as incorrect usage can potentially worsen the damage. If the filesystem contains important data, consider creating a backup of the filesystem before running fsck.minix.
While primarily used for Minix filesystems, it can also be used to inspect and repair other simple file system structures.

Running fsck.minix on a mounted filesystem can cause severe data corruption. Always unmount the filesystem first.

The exit code returned by fsck.minix can indicate the status of the file system check. A zero exit code usually indicates that no errors were found or that all errors were successfully repaired.

The superblock is a critical component of a file system, and if it is damaged, the entire file system can become inaccessible. The -b option allows you to specify an alternative superblock to use for repairing the file system if the primary superblock is corrupted. This requires knowing where the backup superblock is located on the device.

fsck.minix was developed to handle the specific structure of the Minix filesystem, which was prevalent in early Linux systems. As Linux evolved and more advanced filesystems were adopted (ext2, ext3, ext4, etc.), fsck.minix became less frequently used, but it remains available for legacy systems or for educational purposes.

fsck(8), mkfs.minix(8)