[cobalt-users] Yet more on unrecoverable disk errors and fsck...

[Chip <chip@xxxxxxxxxx>]

First, thanks to everyone who has responded.  All of the suggestions have 
been helpful, and I intend to try running MicroScope.  I'll let everyone 
know what I find...

To follow up on Jeff's suggestions:

Jeff wrote:
>You can't fix errors while the partition is mounted. I really don't
>remember if there is or isn't a way to load linux on the RaQ without
>mounting the drives.
(snip)
>(if possible it would require
>attaching a terminal to the serial port on the back of your RaQ).
>That'll give you a chance to see if you can fix the drive.

Actually, the procedure in the Cobalt knowledgebase calls for doing a 
umount before running fsck, and I've been doing all of the work on the 
Cobalt via the serial interface (the machine won't boot even to the point 
of accepting telnet.)  Since after unmounting /dev/hda4, fsck is still 
unable to correct the errors on the drive, I think it's safe to assume that 
unless MicroScope can do something to fix the drive, it's probably time to 
swap it with a new one.

The last thing I want is some flaky problems down the road with the machine 
more than a thousand miles away from me :)

If anyone has any additional comments, or if I'm making a big mistake, I'd 
appreciate any commentary.

Meantime, thanks again for all your help, and a merry christmas to all!!

Regards,

Chip White