Kernel panic - troubleshooting limitations

Question

Hey. Help! So I've had kernel panics intermittently since October - 3 times in total. I pasted the most recent one in here because while I can figure out where they are I don't know what they mean.
Here's my problem: about 6 weeks ago my CD/DVD drive failed. So I can't start up off a CD to, say, repair the disk. And I can't figure out how to reinstall the OS - unless maybe I disk-image the CDs onto an external bootable drive using another computer, which I then use to start up this computer. I repaired permissions, obviously. What else should I do?
I'm guessing this is something to do with failing RAM. Other than irregularly connecting a PT box to the USB and an external drive to the fire wire I don't have peripherals. I'm clearly approaching a place where I have to decide how much money to invest in this project but if I can delay that a little longer I'd like to, what with the financial apocalypse.
THANKS.
Thu Feb 12 15:56:32 2009
Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x300 - Data access DAR=0x000000000000008C PC=0x00000000002C9490
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x20F65A00)
PC=0x002C9490; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x0000008C; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x0003CA1C; R1=0x0D1E3DC0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x002C9438 0x0003CA1C 0x000A9714
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x20F65A00)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x20E92280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0003): 0x300 - Data access
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8204 0x000ABB80
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x20F65A00)
PC=0x002C9490; MSR=0x00009030; DAR=0x0000008C; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x0003CA1C; R1=0x0D1E3DC0; XCP=0x0000000C (0x300 - Data access)
Backtrace:
0x002C9438 0x0003CA1C 0x000A9714
Exception state (sv=0x20E92280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1/RELEASE_PPC

Answer 1

Understanding crash logs isn’t easy and it’s hard (sometimes impossible) to decipher the cause of the problem. Take a look at Apple’s Crash Reporter document at http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn2004/tn2123.html
Also look at Tutorial: An introduction to reading Mac OS X crash reports
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20060309075929717
Kernel panics are usually caused by a hardware problem – frequently RAM, a USB device or a Firewire device. What external devices do you have connected? When trying to troubleshoot problems, disconnect all external devices except your monitor, keyboard and mouse. Do you experience the same problems?
To eliminate RAM being the problem, Look at this link: *Testing RAM* @ http://guides.macrumors.com/Testing_RAM Then download & use Memtest & Ramber.
May be a solution on one of these links.
Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ
Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ
Resolving Kernel Panics
Avoiding and eliminating Kernel panics
12-Step Program to Isolate Freezes and/or Kernel Panics
 Cheers, Tom