Couldn't find root user. Sleeping and trying again.

Question

Last week I installed an MSO 2004 update on my G5 iMac running 10.4.11.
Then I attempted to repair permissions. The repair permissions process
halted at about half of the progress bar. I let it cook for about two
hours without success, then tried to force quit Disk Utility. I
couldn't force quit it, so I very reluctantly turned off the Mac;
something I've rarely ever done. I waited five minutes and then turned
the Mac back on. The startup sequence progressed to the point where the
system displays the gray apple on the gray background, and the circular
progress indicator or gear begins turning. I let it turn for one hour
and then powered off the iMac, then powered it back up with the same
results.
I powered it off again and then commenced a Safe Boot. Same results as
before.
I powered it off again and then started it in Single User Mode. No
problem. I ran /sbin/fsck -fy. No problem.
I typed "reboot" and it rebooted. This time I start it in Verbose mode.
After the preliminary startup code, the system began repeating the same
message lines:
dsFindDirNodes returned -14071, count = 0 count = 2147483646
Couldn't find root user. Sleeping and trying again.
A Google search produced very few results. I don't have a backup
because I inherited this iMac from my 75 year old semi retired father
who wanted a 20-inch Intel iMac instead. I just goof around with the G5
iMac from time to time, and am considering giving it to my little niece and
nephews. It worked great for about a month. I have customized my
user account and the accounts for the little ones, so I really don't
want to wipe the hard drive and reinstall Tiger again from scratch.
I booted from the suspect internal hard drive into single user mode.
I ran /sbin/fsck -fy on the internal hard drive.
All tests passed.
I ran fsck_hfs on the internal hard drive.
It returned a message that stated that I needed
to add additional information.
I ran fsck_hfs with several switches enabled, but
it continued to return this message.
I performed the procedures in Apple's article 107210
"Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server: How to Replace the NetInfo
Database (Restoring from defaults).
This did not solve the problem.
I booted this computer from my external Firewire hard drive that I use
to create nightly backups on my G4 iMac using SuperDuper!.
I ran Disk Utility Repair Disk Permissions on the
internal hard drive.
There were no permissions errors.
I ran Disk Utility Repair Disk.
All tests passed.
I ran the TechTool Pro Suites --> Advanced Tests on
the internal hard drive.
All tests passed except for "Startup File" which it
listed as " <Not Present>".
The description of this test is:
"This test checks the Startup file. The parameters
within this file contain the information used by
the computer ROM to determine what program will
boot the computer as well as other system-specific
aspects."
I ran the TechTool Pro Performance --> Maintenance
routine on the internal hard drive.
It completed the maintenance successfully.
I ran DiskWarrior on the internal hard drive.
It reported no directory errors, but I replaced it
anyway.
While booted from the external Firewire hard drive, I viewed what
appears to be the proper compliment of folders on the internal hard
drive. Of course, I didn't examine and verify every subfolder in the
hierarchy, however, examining the Applications, Library, System, and
Users folders two deep seemed to indicate that everything was there.
I booted this computer from my Tiger installation disk. I selected
Utilities --> Reset Password... (I think.). It listed only the
Administrator account (root) on the internal hard drive. It did not
list the other three accounts that I created on this hard drive, even
all three respective folders are present in the Users folder. However,
it did list all four accounts on the still attached external Firewire
hard drive.
By every measure, this drive and its directory are sound. I am
concerned that TechTool Pro reported that the Startup File is Not
Present. Beyond the meaning that the words suggest, I'm not sure what
this really means. I checked the Micromat site and found the following:
The Startup File has been defined but not yet
implemented by Apple.
What does the message signify:
dsFindDirNodes returned -14071, count = 0 count = 2147483646
Couldn't find root user. Sleeping and trying again.
Can I effect a simple repair?
Thank you.

Answer 1

I think besides a reinstall, only DiskWarrior from Alsoft...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
stands a chance of fixing it.