Using Maintainance console

[metalhead]

Hi,
My Ubuuntu Linux system was switched off at the mains without being properly shut down. When it was restarted again, the file system checks failed and I was presented with the maintainance console command prompt.
How do I check what is wrong with the file system, so that I can post for help with fixing it. Is there any sort of generic repair command that checks the disk and fixes errors?
Any advice would be great!

Thanks,
Tim.

[ptkobe]

fsck (see man fsck) can check your disks (it is what was used during startup)

For repair, as mentioned in fs-specific-options
"Options which are not understood by fsck are passed to the filesystem-specific checker. These arguments must not take arguments, as there is no way for fsck to be able to properly guess which arguments take options and which don't."

I use xfs, so its xfs_repair instead (fsck warns me)

So please tell us what linux version are you using
and what filesystems
$ fdisk -l

Another option is to use a LiveCD. If you have your install CD (and its a desktop version) there's an option to "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" that does it, if you don't have other more repair specific.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

Regards
Luis