You do need the root password to fix this problem.  Even if you didn't have
it, a time would come (probably sooner than later) when you would need it.
Unless you can contact the previous owner of the system and get the root
password, I think that your only option is to start over.  Linux is very
security oriented and the root password is pretty much the key to it all.
So if it gets lost or forgotten, there's really not much of an alternative
but to start fresh.

Drew Dunn
The NOSPIN Group

-----Original Message-----

Greetings,
I would like to acquaint myself with Linux.  So I've recently purchased a
used PC with RedHat Linux installed on it.  However there is an error on
boot-up and I don't know how to fix it.  The error reads:
==========
Checking root filesystem
/dev.hda1 contains a file system with errors, check forced.
/dev/hda1:
lnode 69 has illegal block(s).

/dev/hda1: UNEXPECTED INCONSISTENCY; RUN fsch MANUALLY.
          (i.e., without -a or -p options)

*** An error occurred during the file system check.
*** Dropping you to a shell; the system will reboot
*** when you leave the shell.
Give root password for maintenance
(or type Control-D for normal startup):
==========

I do not know the root password.  I do have a Linux install boot disk, but
not a rescue disk.  Is this something I can recover from or do I need to
wipe the hard drive and start from the beginning?

Thanks so much for your help!
Ron Jobe

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