Won't start, stuck @ desktop

I also posted this in the MBP forum....
I use my computer every day for work, it's a MPB 2.16 intel core duo
2 gigs of ram running the very latest os-x available.
alot of the sites I use for work only work on Internet explorer 6 or better, so I downloaded an application called ies4osx which uses an X11 script to run a windows version of internet explorer. worked perfectly at first, but as the day went on my computer started getting very slow. I'd quit, still slow, and after a restart it would pick up again. So after a few times restarting (normally, not forced), I started it up, and it went to the desktop background picture (no menus icons etc), and the mouse is there, and switches between the mouse, and the spinning wheel. The mouse will move, but that is the only response the computer will give.
I restarted from the install disk, ran permissions and disk repair, no issues found.
I would archive and install, but it requires 11 gigs and i only have 6 free.
I really need all the info on here for work, and i need the computer itself. I'm using an iBook G4 i had around the house now.
does anyone have any ideas? I have both computers here at work with me all day. Will target disk mode work between the G4 and the intel? Any ideas are more than welcome

Hello again:
I think you perhaps missed something. This is a description about what an archive and install does:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710
After an A&I you should have a completely operational system. You will, of course, need to run software update to bring things up to current levels.
If you did it correctly, the A&I installed a fresh copy of OS X and preserved your files, programs, and settings. The rather large +"previous system"+ folder (45 GB seems large, but possible, based on what you posted earlier) contains everything of yours before the archive and install. You can think of it as a safety net. The thing is not bootable, but allows you, if something was missed somehow, to retrieve it. That folder may be safely trashed after things are running well (I usually suggest 3 weeks or so). However, in your case and the inadequate HD space (4 GB is clearly not enough), I would throw caution to the winds and trash it right away. Being the cautious person I am, I would probably try to put it on a DVD (unless you have an external drive).
Barry

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Post relates to: Treo 680 (Unlocked GSM)
This question was solved.
View Solution.

OK, good luck,
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Post relates to: Treo 755p (Sprint)

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