How to do HDD diagnostics on MacBook Air?

I have a macbook air (out of warranty) that is throwing -36 errors from the finder in 10.6.2. This is a huge problem since the file throwing the error is part of a VM virtual disk. I've tracked it down to disk corruption, it's not the VM software.
The problem is, how the heck do you run something like DiskWarrior on this machine? I can't fix a disk that I'm booting from. So, I took the machine apart only to find the HDD is not a type I have ever seen, and my tools give me no way to mount it over USB as I could with a normal laptop hard drive. Due to lack of firewire, there's no target disk mode.
So. I have a corrupt hard drive, I have spent money on diagnostics and repair software, and there is no way apparently to run it.
What next?

You can run fsck or boot in Safe Mode (hold Shift key down when booting) to check the drive.
Run fsck.
1. Reboot/Startup holding your Command-S key down.
2. At the command line type the following and hit 'Return.'
/sbin/fsck -fy
3. If it finds a problem and repairs it, immediately run fsck again until the drive checks OK.
4. After it has check/repaired your disk, type 'reboot' and hit 'Return' again. Unit should bootup normally.
BTW...you can buy an inexpensive external MBA SuperDrive off eBay.
Dave M.
MacOSG Founder/Ambassador  An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast
Macsimum News Associate Editor  Creator of 'Mac611 - Mobile Mac Support'

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