Enabling write access to external HDD (in: /media/SYSTEM)?

[TheOldPresbyope]

Below are some cmds I use to check the boot partition. It has to be unmounted first.

Code:

sudo umount /boot
sudo dosfsck -tawl /dev/mmcblk0p1

sudo dosfsck -r /dev/mmcblk0p1
sudo dosfsck -V /dev/mmcblk0p1
sudo mount /boot

As you can see below, still no avail (after unmounting):
pi@moode:~ $ sudo dosfsck -tawl /dev/sda1
fsck.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
malloc:Cannot allocate memory

pi@moode:~ $ sudo fsck -t vfat /dev/sda1
fsck from util-linux 2.29.2
fsck.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
malloc:Cannot allocate memory

(Wondering if it's a matter of just killing all running processes - background running scripts for LCD updates, LIRC/MPD/Transmission daemons and whatnot - to free memory?)

How big is this drive?

Searching on "dosfsck malloc cannot allocate memory" turns up lots of hits for small-memory devices. The answers are variations on a theme of "turn on swap or free up lots of memory".

I think I'd just take the drive to either my Linux desktop or Linux laptop, both of which have ample RAM and swap space, fix the problem(s) there, and bring it back to my moOde player.

Regards,
Kent