IMac OSX 10.5.6 freezing every time - color wheel rampant

Question

Hi - my 2009 iMac is freezing up with ever point and click. It is nearly unresponsive. I get the colorwheel with almost every click. I am forced to shut it down via the on off button as Force Quit won't even work.
This being my first Apple and hence first major issue, I am a bit stumped.
I tried doing a Safe Boot following the instructions in the forum and I cant get that to work either. It just sits idle, and I have to crank it off manually again. I unplugged my Ext h/d, iPod, and printer. Still sluggish/unresponsive. Any suggestions out there?

Answer 1

HI,
Grab your install disc. The gray labeled disc that came with your iMac.
Insert your install disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility window open, look at the bottom of the window. Where you see Capacity and Available. Make sure there is always 10% to 15% free disk space
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11942412#11942412
You've had these problems for several weeks?
This a 2009 iMac? Do you have AppleCare? Is it still covered under the one year limited warranty?
Carolyn