Problem: # touch file touch: cannot touch `file': Read-only file system # cat /proc/mounts rootfs / rootfs rw 0 0 /dev/root / ext3 ro,data=ordered 0 0 Solution: First check your /etc/fstab file and if root mount is comment then ucomment it If you are not able uncomment then follow the following procedure First go to grub rescue mode 1. Reboot your system 2. Press esc 3. press e 4. go to linux16 and end of this line of code 5. press ctrl+x 5. mount -o remount,rw / 6. vi /etc/fstab 7. save and exit 8. reboot