Yikes. So, things have been messed up for a few weeks now?

Yeah, I was waiting to bring it into the apple store because I knew the problems were coming, but I live in NYC and coordinating a cab and my boyfriend being able to help me with the 50 lb machine took a while.

Any ideas?

At this point I think I am just going to clean install the internal, and see if I can somehow restore the sparseimage ... or at least some of the contents. I have my Photos and music on DVDs but I need my calendar and documents as well...

Thanks again!

I think it might be useful to not touch anything and to get someone there to help you -- a genius at the apple store or a consultant. I wouldn't want to see you erase important stuff...

Yeah, it just depends how much I think it is worth. I am not under warranty, and Applecare makes you pay $50 to fix one specific problem, or I can bring someone to the apartment who is going to charge me an arm and a leg. At this point, I have spent quite a bit of money on this 2 year old computer which is no longer being made. It just seems like a big problem, and I might as well just trash it and start all over. I have my photos and music. I can see what else I can salvage later ...

OK. Good luck with it!