Help! Pismo booting to command line?

[TL]

My Pismo locked up earlier, so i did a force restart. Normally this clears any issues (it locks once in awhile, I do the standard diagnostics, and things are usually good again). This time, though, on the reboot it came up with some error about a missing file on startup? The screen was black with white type, I assume it was the command line interface. I hit a few keys and it went back to the normal startup screen, so I though all was good.

It was, until it went back the command line, which requested a username/password. I tried the username/pw I have set for normal use, but no go, the system tells me I have an invalid username/pw combo.

Specs: Pismo 500 with 1GB ram using OS 10.3.9 with all updates save QT 7 installed.

Any ideas how I can recover this thing? I do not have any other disk utilities save the OS disk, but do have a Mini from which i can burn recovery utilities to CD and/or try Target disk mode if that's appropriate.

[microchip13]

What file does it say is missing?

[TL]

something about a startup file? Not sure, as the text on screen has changed. at the moment it reads the following:

"Darwin/BSD (Pismo.local) (console)

login:"

I guess i should make clear i know nothing about Unix, and even less about the console/command line.

Update: Finally managed to get it to boot to the OS disk. Running Disk Utility now. Crossing fingers...

[MacMagus]

'First thing to try is a simple PRAM zap.

Hold down ++P+R on startup and wait for 3 chimes.

Then see if it boots normally.

If it doesn't then try booting with an install CD and run the Disk Utility to repair the disk.

If the Disk Utility finds nothing wrong or repairs something and you still can't boot then an Archive and Install might be in order.

If it finds something wrong and can't fix it then we can talk about other solutions.

BTW: It shouldn't be locking up all that often. You've got another problem to take care of once you get it booting.

[TL]

Zapped PRAM. It went back to the command line. Booted to the OS disk, and ran disk utility twice. Both time Disk Utility reported disk was repaired. After restarting, back at the command line.

[TL]

OK, finally caught the text of the initial console screen:

"Darwin/BSD (Pismo.local) (console)

systemStarter: The following startup items failed to properly start:

[day time]: System/Library/Startup Items/Cron
[day time]: -execution of startup script failed
[day time]:

[day time]: System/Library/startup items/Login Window
[day time]: -execution of startup script failed
[day time]:"

I may have the spaces/item names slightly off there, but that's pretty much what it says. hit any key and it moves back to requesting a login.

Starting the archive/install process now. Joy.

[TL]

Back up and running. Whew. Thanks for the reminder about the archive/install procedure, MacMagus. I've always just wiped the disk and started over. Really glad I didn't have to this time.