How to recover ext3 [Archive] - FedoraForum.org

Open a terminal window and change to root using (su -) that is SU Dash,
then type:

touch /forcefsck

and then reboot. This will force a file system check during the boot
process.

Mike

Go there and read the rest of the Posts to get Context (remember
improperly run fsck, such as on a mounted file system, can damage your
file system even more!)...
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/archive/index.php/t-228000.html

Don