Can't Access Hard Disc: Turn On, Directed Into Shut Down Or Restart Loop

Hello, please help.
Computer: 1999-2000 iMac G3 400 MHz DVD slot loading with CRT screen, Internal ATA 2 Hard Drive in 2 Partitions.
Mac OS: 10.2.8 and 9.2.2
Mouse and Keyboard: working
Chronology:
1st Problem: Don't know if relevant. In brief, last night,couldn't save images from an eBay listing to my computer: jpg files wouldn't move to desktop. shut down: restarted.
Unexpectedly, dock reverted to original icon settings. Never happened before and don't know why.
Changed dock, including adding for icons like Firefox, Preview, etc. that I wanted.
Checked all preferences: seemed all former settings maintained. Made a few minor changes, such as now using dock magnification.
Restarted and now saved jpg file photos: everything seemed fine.
Browsed on Internet. Saved all new documents to external ACOM DATA disc. Logged off and shut computer off.
2nd Problem: Today I can't use computer. Started computer from power button on keyboard: Startup doesn't finish and can't access my hard drive and OS X dock.
(This morning there had been an electric power shutdown but I have a surge protector and green light on and steady.)
So what happend when I tried to boot up?
Started computer. Screen color properly went from gray to blue. Boot up started: then ceased.
Got dialogue of, "contact your system administrator or restart". Believe I clicked o.k. button.
Never experienced this before. I am on OpenDNS. With another computer, checked if their system is operational: it is.
Restarted: Initialization begins but then doesn't finish. Gray to blue screen: Get dialogue: Restart or Shut down.
Try restarting again. Same result.
Try Shutdown and turning power on again. Same.
Tried cutting power off during restart and then restarting. Same.
Mac OSX Dialogue box with my name always comes up, "Restart or Shut down. Won't finish booting up. Can't access hard drive or dock.
Do I have hard drive failure? Something else? Don't have OS X disc but can get one. What is likely problem and what should I do to attempt to resolve this? Please advise.
Thank you, minnow

It sounds like your hard drive has some data corruption issues or disk directory errors.
You should insert your Mac OS X installation disc and restart with the C key held down. Once you get to the Installer's screen, you should be able to run Disk Utility. I believe for Jaguar (10.2), it is under the Installer's Installer menu (in the menu bar).
In Disk Utility, use +Repair Disk+ on your startup drive. Note if any errors are reported, and if so, whether they are repaired.

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