Several things are biting me.

1) The PowerBook is running 10.2.8. Most of the backup and disk utilities out there require at least 10.3.x. A couple that don't are [link|http://propagandaprod.com/dejavu.html|Deja Vu] and [link|http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html|Carbon Copy Cloner].

CCC shows the folders that it's copying, and using it I discovered that the Applications folder is where at least part of the problems lie.

2) There are apparently a mass of cross-linked files that the Mac OS X Disk Utility can't fix. I'll need to get a copy of [link|http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/|DiskWarrior] or [link|http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php|Drive Genius] or [link|http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=48|Tech Tool Pro 4].

What I'm attempting to do now is back up as much as I can to an [link|http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822145099|80 GB ATA disk] that I mounted in an external USB enclosure. I'm attempting to use CCC (it makes bootable backups). If that works, I'll try to install it in the PowerBook and transfer the remaining stuff that I can from the 20 GB disk when it's mounted in the USB enclosure.

I'll probably get a copy of OS X 10.4.6 Tiger in a few weeks (since 10.5 is not due until next summer according to MacOSRumors). I'll get a disk utility package too (probably Drive Genius or Tech Tool Pro 4).

I'll try to go through [link|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=332983|Gulliver's 10.4 Upgrade Checklist] too, when the time comes.

I'll report back when I know more.

Cheers,
Scott.