Entire file system goes read-only

[rpug-vYTEC60ixJUAvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Ryan Pugatch)]

edwardp-mh2Nk+tgbQM at public.gmane.org wrote:
> On one system while it's running, something occurs which causes the 
> /entire/ Ubuntu (10.04 LTS) file system to become read-only.  It was 
> first discovered two days ago when I tried to clear out the Trash 
> folder, when a window appeared indicating files were read-only.  I then 
> opened the file manager and /every/ icon had a lock on it.
> 
> At this point, the only options were to shut down or reboot.  Upon doing 
> so, when the system comes back up, it goes straight into a file system 
> check, then when that has completed, the system reboots itself without 
> user intervention.
> 
> Is there any possible explanation as to what (and why this) is 
> happening, or maybe something I can look at?
> 

Had this happen running Ubuntu on my Thinkpad T61.  Eventually got to 
the point where the fs was getting corrupted.  I replaced the hard 
drive, assuming it was failing.  The problem then resurfaced again a few 
weeks later.  Replaced the drive again, same problem.  Never did figure 
out what happened.  I ended up loading CentOS and later Fedora on to the 
machine and have been happy ever since.

Ryan