Using an iBook G4 to fix an iMac G3?

Question

Long time Mac user; first time severe kernel panic experiencer.
I have a Flower Power iMac G3 600 SE running OS 10.3.9 who kernel panics on startup, due to an invalid B-Tree node size. (I can't make it to the OS X welcome screen before she panics).
I ordered DiskWarrior 4 from the online Apple Store, after confirming the software's system requirements with a sales associate. DiskWarrior arrived today; it's 4.1.1. Possibly will not do me good because...
Package says: "Starting up from the included DiskWarrior disc requires a G4 867 MHz Mac or better with DVD drive, built-in FireWire, and a minimum of 512 MB RAM. To install, you must have a G3 or better Mac and be started from Mac OS 10.3.9 or later."
(The system requirements for DiskWarrior on the Apple web site said you needed 10.3.9 or later, G3 minimum processor, and a CD-ROM drive.)
I have access to an iBook G4 1.33 GHz with a DVD drive, running 10.4.11.
I also have a 1TB external FireWire drive--bought a few months ago to use as my iMac external hard drive--with plenty of space to spare.
Is it possible to install DiskWarrior 4.1.1 on the iBook (or the FireWire drive), boot the G3 as a target disk, and do the repairs on the G3 disk that way?
I want to say yes, but I'm leery because I tried running the Panther install disc for fun over the weekend, and it didn't acknowledge the G3's hard drive as a destination drive. Though it did recognize the hard drive when I ran Disk Utility from the CD (where I got the "invalid B-tree node" error). I can also boot into the terminal to read the panic code (where I got the first indication that I had a hard drive issue).
Thanks bunches!

Answer 1

You have a few options.
You can install Mac OS X Panther on that external FireWire drive, boot from it, run Software Update to get it to 10.3.9, install DiskWarrior, and run DiskWarrior to repair the damage on the internal drive.
Or you can install DiskWarrior on the iBook. Start up the iMac in FireWire Target Disk Mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
Connect it to the iBook with a FireWire cable. The iMac's internal drive should show up as an external drive on the iBook's desktop. Run DiskWarrior to repair the damage on the iMac's internal drive. While doing the repair, turn off background processes such as screen savers, connect the iBook to the power adapter, and set the iBook NOT to go to sleep. And don't run other apps.
Alternately, do the same FireWire Target Disk Mode procedure without installing DiskWarrior on the iBook. Restart the iBook from the DiskWarrior disc, and repair the damage on the iMac's internal drive. This option may seem to be the easiest, but DiskWarrior will run slower when booted off an optical disc (and these repairs can take a long time).
because I tried running the Panther install disc for fun over the weekend, and it didn't acknowledge the G3's hard drive as a destination drive.
That is most likely because the version of Mac OS X Panther on the installer disc is earlier than the version you have installed. If you would have clicked on the Options button and select either +Archive and Install+ or +Erase and Install+ (instead of the default Upgrade install), I think you could have selected the internal drive as the target.