Corrupted System Files, No Longer Boots

Question

Note: I am trying to fix my grandfather's computer, and I may not know some exact details about what happened just before the problems began occurring.
About a week ago, the computer would refuse to boot up. It would sit at the gray screen with the Apple logo without the loading dial showing. I booted off of the Tiger install disk, and ran the disk utility.
When I verified the disk permissions, it gave the error, "Disk Utility internal error: Disk Utility has lost its connection with the Disk Management Tool and cannot continue. Please quit and relaunch Disk Utility." I get the same error message when I try to repair the disk permissions.
When I choose verify disk, I receive the error message, "First Aid failed: Disk Utility stopped verifying "Macintosh HD" because the following error was encountered: The underlying task reported failure on exit." Below in red, it says, "Invalid Key length
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit.
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair"
If I tell it to repair the disk, I get the error message, "First Aid failed: Disk Utility stopped repairing "Macintosh HD" because the following error was encountered: The underlying task reported failure on exit." Below in red, it says, "Invalid Key length
Volume check failed.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit.
1 HFS volume checked
1 volume could not be repaired because of an error."
Is there anything I can do to save the computer?
MacBook   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

Answer 1

looks like you've got a damaged hdd. take it to the apple store. im not sure if they can help you, they might replace the hdd for u but im not sure if they'll be able to save your files...not much else i can think of, sorry!