Pre Intel M Mini 10.4.8 Grey Wheel Spinning

[jenninju]

My pre-intel mac mini is up to date for 10.4.8, it's 40 gig drive has about 1.5 free.

I can boot into single user mode and the disk, and permissions, check OK. I can also boot to target disk mode, but do not have another mac. Can also boot from cd, but want to avoid erase and install if possible.

When I boot normally, or safe mode, I get a spinning grey wheel on a a grey screen, and that is where it hangs.

I do have external usb drives, and would love to create a boot disk of some sort, if only to get my config files and stuff before I start all over.

The mini is 2-3 years old, but bought new from Apple and has always run very well until this failure.

Any suggestions would be most welcome, and thanks.

Jud