Check the hard disk for errors with fsck on Debian Linux

For checking the hard disk for errors, I follow these steps:

First, back up all the files important to me.  Copying files from one place to another.

Then, I can issue the command: (I must be a superuser.)

shutdown -rF now

The machine restarts now and is going to check the disk with the tool fsck.

Update: Reduce the risk of losing files by backing up these files.