# man > fsck.minix(8)

---
type: CommandReference
command: fsck.minix
mode: man
section: 8
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference

- `fsck.minix /dev/sda1` — Check filesystem (non-interactive, default)
- `fsck.minix -l /dev/sda1` — List all filenames
- `fsck.minix -r /dev/sda1` — Perform interactive repairs
- `fsck.minix -a /dev/sda1` — Perform automatic repairs (dangerous)
- `fsck.minix -f /dev/sda1` — Force check even if marked valid
- `fsck.minix -v /dev/sda1` — Verbose output
- `fsck.minix -s /dev/sda1` — Show superblock information
- `fsck.minix -h` — Display help

## Name

check consistency of Minix filesystem

## Synopsis

`fsck.minix [options] device`

## Options

**WARNING**: Do not use on a mounted filesystem. Using on a mounted filesystem is very dangerous. If absolutely necessary, ensure no writes occur and no zombie files exist.

### Check/Repair Options

- `-l, --list` — List all filenames.
- `-r, --repair` — Perform interactive repairs.
- `-a, --auto` — Perform automatic repairs (implies `--repair`, answers all questions with default; **extremely dangerous** with extensive damage).
- `-f, --force` — Force a filesystem check even if the filesystem was marked as valid (marking done by kernel on unmount).
- `-m, --uncleared` — Activate MINIX-like "mode not cleared" warnings.

### Output Options

- `-v, --verbose` — Be verbose.
- `-s, --super` — Output super-block information.
- `-V, --version` — Display version information and exit.
- `-h, --help` — Display help text and exit.

### Device Names

The device argument typically has the form:

- `/dev/hda[1-63]` — IDE disk 1
- `/dev/hdb[1-63]` — IDE disk 2
- `/dev/sda[1-15]` — SCSI disk 1
- `/dev/sdb[1-15]` — SCSI disk 2

### Common Diagnostic Messages

- `"unable to read super block"` — device does not exist or is not a MINIX filesystem.
- `"bad magic number in super-block"` — device exists but is not a MINIX filesystem.

If the filesystem is repaired, `fsck.minix` prints "FILE SYSTEM HAS CHANGED" and calls `sync(2)` three times before exiting. No reboot is needed.

## Examples

shell
# Check a MINIX filesystem on /dev/sda1 (non-interactive)
fsck.minix /dev/sda1

# List all filenames on the filesystem
fsck.minix -l /dev/sda1

# Interactive repair
fsck.minix -r /dev/sda1

# Automatic repair (dangerous)
fsck.minix -a /dev/sda1

# Force check even if marked valid
fsck.minix -f /dev/sda1

# Verbose output
fsck.minix -v /dev/sda1

# Show superblock information
fsck.minix -s /dev/sda1
## See Also

- [fsck(8)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/fsck.8.html)
- [fsck.ext2(8)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/fsck.ext2.8.html)
- [mkfs(8)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/mkfs.8.html)
- [mkfs.ext2(8)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/mkfs.ext2.8.html)
- [mkfs.minix(8)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/mkfs.minix.8.html)
- [reboot(8)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/reboot.8.html)
- [sync(2)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/sync.2.html)

## Exit Codes

The exit status is the sum of the following:

- `0` — No errors
- `3` — Filesystem errors corrected, system should be rebooted if filesystem was mounted
- `4` — Filesystem errors left uncorrected
- `7` — Combination of exit statuses 3 and 4
- `8` — Operational error
- `16` — Usage or syntax error