Graphics card fried. How do I retrieve files from HD?

Hi
I have an isight iMac. The graphics card has 'fried'! I have been able to use it (just) for a while until last night when the graphics got so distorted I cannot make anything out on the screen. I have been told by Apple that "it does not fall within their repair programme, therefore I will have to buy a new iMac" as the repair costs equal the cost of a new machine! So annoying as I am a loyal mac owner & my iMac is only 2 1/2 years old. Fortunately I have been able to do some backups, but haven't done one for about 2 weeks. I cannot log in to my iMac any more to do another backup.
How do I retrieve the info from my HD if I cannot log in?
Could I plug in another monitor? I suppose it would show the same 'garbled' image as I assume it would still be using the same graphics card.
Phil

You can use Target Disk Mode:
http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n58583
I would not use the Migration Assistant unless it was another iMac G5. Since iMac G5 and Intels look alike in the early models of iMac Intels, be careful and check that you really do get a G5:
http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n301724
That is unless you know all your applications, plugins and drivers are easily upgraded to Universal Versions for Intel Macs.
The other thing to realize, had you purchased AppleCare while your machine was less than a year old, it would still be covered under AppleCare, since that would be 3 years from your computer's purchase date.
In the future always purchase AppleCare in the first year. You never know when something which isn't covered by a repair program may need being fixed.
My used and refurbished Mac FAQ will help you find older Macs*:
http://www.macmaps.com/usedrefurbished.html
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

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