IMac/Tiger kernel panic and incorrect block count

Question

Hi,
First time here, and I am not super computer-savvy, so please bear with me as I stumble through this.
I have an iMac running 10.4.11. The other day, my screen suddenly showed a message telling me I had to immediately restart my computer. (I have since learned this was due to "kernel panic.") I ran Disk Utility, received the following message via the log:
Verifying volume “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Incorrect block count for file .journalHistoryLog
(It should be 34187 instead of 0)
0 %)
Incorrect number of thread records
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
ng volume bitmap.",0)
Volume Bit Map needs minor repair
Checking volume information.
Invalid volume free block count
(It should be 19184890 instead of 19177718)
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.
I then found that to repair this, I have to boot and run DU from my original startup (Tiger 10.4) disk.
But (here's the problem): I cannot find my 10.4 disks, and I understand it's almost impossible to purchase Tiger anymore. Also, I'm planning to get a new computer soon, so would hate to spend a lot of money to just get through a few weeks (OTOH, would hate to crash and have no computer for a few weeks!).
So here's the questions:
1. Is it possible to boot some other way (for example, in Safe Mode) and run DU that way to fix the problem? If so, what are the steps in the process?
2. If not, then what are my chances if I don't repair (that is, how serious a problem is this)? Would I be okay using the computer for another several weeks until I get my new computer (going for a Mac Book Pro)?
I should note that since this happened, the computer has been fine. (Though of course, I back up to an external hard drive every night, just in case.) So I'm hoping the computer will survive for a few weeks.
Sorry for the long post. Thank you all in advance for any help you can offer!
- Linda

Answer 1

"Is this something a reinstall of OS X would fix or would it be more of a bad HDD that I should replace? The iMac is still under the 1 year warranty until February 5th."
Sounds like Disk Utility cannot fix the hard disk.
If getting your iMac in for service is difficult, you could get DiskWarrior which repair a directory available here: http://www.alsoft.com/
If it were me with an iMac still under warranty, I'd take it in for service and make sure Apple repairs it. You shouldn't have to rely on 3rd party software to repair the hard disk when it's still under warranty. If you do this, when you pick the iMac up, make sure and boot it before you take it home to make sure it's functioning as it should.
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit