How to fix Linux Mint initramfs Prompt at Boot:
Linux Mint initramfs prompt appears after booting computer. The computer does not boot up properly and instead of going straight to the login screen, drops through to a initramfs command line prompt.
Linux Mint initramfs Prompt
The solution below works when Linux Mint 18.3 drops through to the (initramfs) prompt after updating the Linux kernel. There may be other instances where it does not work. Three commands must be run at the command prompt.
1. Run the exit Command
First enter exit at the initramfs prompt.
(initramfs) exit
After typing exit and pressing the Enter key, the following appears at the prompt. The information displayed will be different for different computers.
BusyBox initramfs Prompt after exit Command
Take note of the path of the file system from the above image and shown below. Your root file system name will probably be different, so use the information displayed on your system, which is used in the next command.
The root filesystem on /dev/mapper/mint--vg-root requires a manual fsck
2. Run the fsck Command
Use the fsck command with the file system path determined above. This is in the following format.
fsck <your file system path> -y (On a qstick this is the typical command (fsck /dev/mmcblk0p2 -y))
For the above example this is entered at the initramfs prompt as shown below. Be sure to use your file system path as determined above instead and end with the -y switch.
fsck /dev/mmcblk0p2 -y
When the fsck command runs after entering it as above, it fixes the system. Text scrolls on the screen while it is busy.
3. Run the reboot Command
Finally enter the reboot command at the (initramfs) command prompt.
reboot
This reboots the computer to the Linux Mint login prompt. Everything should now be working properly again.