Mac OS X 10.0: "file system dirty, run fsck"

Certain file system issues may prevent the computer from starting up to a normal state, causing this message to appear: "file system dirty, run fsck". The fsck utility may be able to verify and repair a Mac OS X disk when this happens.
Symptom

The computer starts up in a command-line (text only) environment and displays this message:


Solution

Use the fsck utility to check and repair the disk. For instructions on using the fsck utility, see article 106214: "Mac OS X 10.0: Why, When, and How to Run fsck for File System Maintenance".
Published Date: Oct 11, 2016