All files read-only after compiling OpenFlipper, subsequently unable to boot into Linux at all

Question

I tried compiling OpenFlipper on Linux Mint with make -j8, however this failed (unable to write a file) and left me with an operating system where I wasn't able to save ANY files (text, screenshots, ..).

After reboot I'm unable to get into Linux but instead see a black basic full-screen shell with the message "Failed to find cpu0 device node".

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This has happened to me on at least 3 separate occasions so it should be related to OpenFlipper or at least using make. Is OpenFlipper bricking my computer, or is my SSD unable to handle having so many bits written to it at once, or what else is going on?

Answer 1

I'm unable to say what caused this but at least how to fix it.

Run fsck /dev/sda6 (replace /dev/sda6 with your system's root (/) directory) and agree to all the inode changes it proposes (press y), this will give you back a bootable OS.

If instead you're still in your system (ie you haven't rebooted yet after seeing the "read-only" message) you can run sudo fsck /dev/sda6 from your usual terminal, however you will still have to reboot to regain a working OS.

Answer 2

In general, the default action of a failed filesystem ext* is to drop into read/only mode. Thus you might be seeing is either your disk hardware is starting to fail -OR- you have exercised some type of issue that causes filesystem corruption.

Once you are in read/only mode your only recourse is to reboot and let fsck try to fix the problem. If the filesystem structure is VERY corrupt you may not get a bootable system back depending on what partition we are talking about. Then it is time for rebuilding the system and using those trusty backups.