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Cannot boot - Getting Failed to isolate default target error

cn flag

Here's what I have on my hard disk

Primary partition 1

  • win-xp

Extended partition 2

  • data1
  • boot partition
  • swap
  • ubuntu 18.04
  • ubuntu 20.04
  • data2

Both ubu18 and ubu20 partitions have grub config files. But I believe it's the ubu18 boot list that gets displayed during boot time, not the ubu20 one.

Now ubu18 partition has corrupt files and even if I boot into ubu20 from boot list, an fsck session still runs and it reports error and system freezes with error: systemd[1]: Failed to isolate default target: Unit basic.target not found. !!!!! Failed to isolate default target. systemd[1]: Freezing execution

So far I've done the steps mentioned in: Root file system requires manual fsck but that didn't help.

I also ran blkid and verified that the UUIDs displayed and those in fstab are the same. This was suggested by a friend.

I'm also not able to boot into ubu18 or winxp or any of the Recovery options.

Any clue to what's going on on my machine?

Pls see my comments below for updates on this issue. I feel the disk needs to be either re-formatted or replaced. Any suggestions?

guiverc avatar
cn flag
I would boot a *live* system (eg. Ubuntu install media) and perform checks from there, firstly check the drive health (ie. using it's built-in SMART technology; https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Smartmontools) then `fsck` the partitions from there. If your partition system is damaged though you do have issues, but I'd start with SMART, then `fsck` (your link didn't mention all partition(s))
makarand avatar
cn flag
@guiverc I did boot from a live USB and ran fsck on ubu20, ubu18 and winxp partitions. ubu20 came out clean. ubu18 had errors that were fixed by fsck supposedly and it came clean on a second fsck run. But after reboot I still get system freeze. I'll try smartmontools though
makarand avatar
cn flag
Disk program shows Assessment - self-test failed.
makarand avatar
cn flag
Also, a data partition is now showing as Free space. While what was showing earlier as Free space 11 mb is now shown as partition 5 52 GB unknown. Is this a sign of a failing disk?
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