[redhot_nyc]

I have G3 iMac, 10.2 totally up-to-date. Still boots up but very slowly.

= Can't start up in Firewire target disc mode
- Can't use MOUSE, Ethernet or Firewire
- I do single-user login and fsck -y several times
- "disc cannot be repaired"

Need to recover this disc, don't have a tower to put it in. If I re-install 10.2 will I potentially lose data?

My plan is to start it up in Firewire Target Disc mode and get all the contents of it, then format the disc. That sound about right?

THANKS!

[Detrius]

Your complaints about FireWire and the mouse, etc... are very vague.

If you can't do FireWire target disk mode... are you sure you have the latest firmware on the iMac? If not, you shouldn't have ever booted into 10.2 to begin with--on that iMac. (you are lucky the thing still works at all.)

If you reinstall 10.2, yes, you could potentially hose everything. Your primary problem is the directory structure. Reinstalling the OS won't fix that. You need either to format the drive or use Disk Warrior.

[redhot_nyc]

yes, it has the latest firmware

the mouse WORKS when booting from a CD (and, I would assume Firewire and everything else like normal)

will give diskwarrior a shot