Disk Utility can't fix error...

Hi people...
I have a G4 iBook, 933mhz, 640ram, 80g HD. It's on OS 10.4.11. Everything has been running fine, no problems for a long while, until this morning.
I turned the computer on, and it loaded/booted fine up to the 'Login' screen. I popped my password in, pressed Enter. Usually, with in a matter of milliseconds, my current wallpaper appears, followed by the menu bar and the HD icons etc. However, today, after entering the password, the login box disappeared and left the Aqua default wallpaper in the backround. I left it for about 5 minutes and it just stayed as it was, so i powered down. I put in my install DVD and booted up Disk Utility. I got the permissions checked and verified, all were fine. I then done the disk verification. Within a matter of minutes, it came up with an error in bold red (apologies in advance, i didn't record the code). I tried both the repair and varify options and neither could solve the problem.
I restarted the computer and it loaded fine, until i'd put my password in again. So this time i left it for about 15 minutes. When i returned, it had managed to load my current wallpaper, but nothing else.
Does this sound like a serious problem? I don't want to re-install as i'll lose lots of information on the computer. Has anybody else experienced similar? Could i re-install if there's a HD error?
Any advice welcomed!
(if i remember correctly, the error on screen was something like: "HD error, 90, unable to complete process" or similar).

Hi guys
Well, last night, i ran Disk Utility, an the error was that bad that it still couldn't fix it. I started the computer up as normal, and after login, i left it for nearly 2 hours. Desktop eventually loaded up, and once loaded, the whole computer behaved as normal. I backed-up my files/pics etc (not alot thankfully as i'm a regular back-upper (you learn after losing a hard-drive with major projects on!)).
I then ran DU in situe, and it reported the same error-"Error -9445. Keychain length not long enough: 0 volumes repaired". As i had backed up the info, i restarted it and tried again. This time it booted up as normal. So i ran DU again, but it still reported the same error. Everytime i tried to 'Repair' on first aid, the option was ghosted-so upon selecting Verify, it started to check, telling me it needed to be repaired, then Repair wasn't a option. Unfortunately i was without Internet access last night, so was unable to accesss this information, and i can't tell you what the S.M.A.R.T. status was.
I figured that as i had backed up the info i needed, i'd start up with Install the disk, try erasing the HD, and then run First Aid Repair Disk, knowing full well that i would be 'Zeroing' the HD and reinstalling in the next few days. So. i bravely erased the HD.... i ran the Repair Disk....the result? Tune in tomorrow folks!
No, just kidding-the result was fine. No errors reported, volume 'Dan's G4 was successfully repaired' (in green type, something i had begun to miss!). So i now know that i'll need to install the OS again, but at this moment in time it appears the the HD is ok. Obviously i won't know until the system is re-installed, but i do have access to a PC with internet connection at the moment, so if it all goes pair shaped then i can report back. However, when i'm all up and running, i need to learn about partitioning, so i'll be back to report regardless...
The only further question i have is concerning re-installation. My iBook came with OS 10.3.4 over 3 CD's, plus the 4 software CD's. I upgraded and bought OS 10.4.7 on DVD. So what do i use for installation? Do i use the original 10.3 CD's, or do i use the 10.4 DVD? I'm not sure if the CD's contain vital info that the DVD doesn't? Sounds a silly question i suppose, but i don't want to spend 2+ hours installing, then another 2 upgrading when i put in 10.4!
Cheers for your help, and thanks in advance for your info!
Dan
Message was edited by: Dan the 480 Man

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