Well the 256 result code should track back to a more specific error - if you check out the documentation for mount - you may find out more precisely what that error means.

As for system Vs. backticks etc. - when I have to use one or the other - I generally try this sub:

# SubRoutine: sysrun
#
# Run System Command
sub sysrun {
        my ($command) =@_;
        my $ret_code;

        $ret_code = system("$command");
        if ( $ret_code == 0 ) {
                # Job suceeded
                $ret_code = 1;
        }
        else {
                # Job Failed
                $ret_code = 0;
        }
        return ($ret_code);
}
[download]

While this doesn't store the return code from the system call, it does allow you to treat the system call with logical operators like any other perl program

Also, the return_code can easily be logged if there is an error from this sub.

---

game(Wookie,opponent) eq 'Wookie' ? undef $problem : remove_limbs(arms,opponent);