can I back up files if OS doesn't boot

[mateo]

Is it possible to back up files if I can't boot the OS?

We have an iMac G5, with Tiger, and it seems like the hard drive is dead or dying. I've run Disk Utility (both via the Install disk and singer user mode) and continue to get both "incorrect number of thread records" and "invalid volume file count" errors. Disk Utility can't fix it. I've tried an "Archive and Install" but it hangs when Verifying Destination Volume and then gives an error/Please try again.

I have express ordered Disk Warrior, so it should be here in a couple of days, but in the meantime I am coming to the conclusion that we may have to do a complete erase/re-install of OS. (Am I right to assume that, if the HD doesn't get fixed with Disk Warrior, our only solution is to erase/re-install?)

Unfortunately, we have not backed up files in a very very long time, and I am wondering if there is a way to back up files if we can't get the OS to boot up.
Note: we do NOT have another Mac to use. We also do not have an external drive, although I suppose if it is the only way to save the data on the HD it would be worth investing in....but I have also read posts saying that this is not guaranteed to work.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. And yes, we have learned our lesson re: backing up files!!

Thanks.

[billbaloney]

Do you have another machine with FireWire? If you do, you can try booting the iMac into target disk mode and seeing if the drive is readable that way.

If you don't have another machine, the next option, which is not recommended if you haven't pulled this kind of stunt before, is to remove the drive from the computer (here or here), mount it in an external enclosure, and see if it's readable from there.

[mateo]

The only other external we have with Firewire is a 30GB iPod.

Is it worth buying an external hard drive...will we be able to get our files that way?

[billbaloney]

Well, the thing you need right now is a computer that can read the troubled drive. By "machine with FireWire", I meant "computer with a FireWire port". Because when you boot the iMac into target disk mode it's just a disk; it doesn't know how to do anything. You need another computer to connect to it and try to read the disk.

Do you have an Apple service center near you? An Apple Store, or other Apple-certified computer repair shop? That might be a good next step. The professionals have some data recovery methods not available to your average consumer.