Checking the disk at every start
An optional full check before each start, which refuses to boot a damaged disk.
Check the disk every time this instance starts — a switch in the Maintenance card's Disk section. Off by default.
When it's on, every start first runs a full check of the disk from your Mac. If the disk is clean, the instance starts as usual. If it isn't, MSL refuses to start it rather than risk making things worse, with a message that begins "didn't start: the filesystem check at start found a problem". Then repair it.
- It needs e2fsprogs on your Mac. If you turn it on and later remove e2fsprogs, starts are refused until you reinstall it or turn the switch off — the message says which.
- It adds the length of a full check to every start. On a big disk that's noticeable.
- Resuming a hibernated session skips the check: the saved memory and the disk have to match exactly, and a check can't change that.
- It's set per instance.