Stuck in Safe mode after Directory Repair.

I am not sure where to post this, so I'll try here.
I have an iMac G4 20" FP 2GB, running 10.4.11. I ran Disk Utility before installing new (non System) software as is my practice. An error called "invalid sibling link" was discovered. But repair was not possible with DU reporting "The underlying task reported failure on exit". I booted under Safe Mode and tried fsck, which also could not repair the problem. I ran DiskWarrior which rebuilt the directory. Since the new directory looked good, I saved it and reboot. Now the internal drive will ONLY boot into (what I think is) safe mode, giving me the sh-2.05b# prompt. If I type "exit" it shows the following:
/etc/master.passwd. no such file or directory
-sh-2.05b#
If I type "reboot", it boots until it gets right back to the above
If I run fsck, I get no errors and an "OK". If I run DU boot from another drive, and verify the (internal) drive. I get "OK". I have repaired permissions. I tried resetting the master password using the system install disk. I tried resetting PRAM. No success. I have written to Alsoft and am awaiting a reply.
I can access/mount the internal drive if I boot from another disk, and the contents look normal.
Sounds rather complicated. My next step is to try an archive install, but perhaps I am missing something simple.
Thanks.
-Ted

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1054895
Read bottom set of posts at http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-51350.html
Message was edited by: Limnos

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