Firewire Target Computer Won't Show Up on Host

I'm trying to access my broken MacBook's hard drive to save some files by using FireWire Target Disc Mode as described here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

My MacBook will not boot up normally, but it does boot to FireWire mode. If I push the power button and hold down the "T" key, it displays a FireWire logo that moves around the screen.

But when I connect it with a FireWire cable to my girlfriend's MacBook, it doesn't show up on her desktop.

Is there anything else I can try? Or is my MacBook just too broken to save these files?






Background Info:

My MacBook crashed- literally- onto the floor.

I picked it up and opened it and it made a lot of bad sounding mechanical noises.

I was able to drag windows around and minimize them, but it was very sluggish. When I clicked on an image on the desktop it opened up, but only after several minutes.

I restarted, but it just showed a logo and a spinning wheel for an hour.

I took it to the Genius Bar, and they said I should try using FireWire Target Mode to save files and then do a full erase of the hard drive, and reinstall everything. I have a Time Machine backup, but it's not recent, and I'd like to save pictures that aren't on it.

Good idea, simsaladimbaba!

It does indeed show up in Disk Utility.

But it still doesn't show on the desktop or under "devices" on the left side of Finder windows.

So how can I access the files?






One more thought....
Could I possibly repair my hard drive by using Disk Utility on my girlfriend's MacBook?

Okay, the disk was not mounted, so I tried to mount it.

A box popped up and said it couldn't be mounted and that I should try running First Aid on the disk. I did, and got this:


I'm pretty sure my MacBook has (had) the last version of Leopard. I had done all the updates, but never installed Snow Leopard.

My girlfriend's computer is running 10.5.8.

Is there any hope of recovering pictures from my MacBook HD?

Or should I give up on that and just go ahead and do a full erase and reinstall OSX.

Thanks again for the help!

This is the log from Disk Utility:

**********
2012-02-25 18:37:29 -0500: Disk Utility started.

2012-02-25 18:49:50 -0500: Eject of “AAPL FireWire Target Media” failed
2012-02-25 23:07:19 -0500: Mount of “Macintosh HD” failed
2012-02-25 23:07:43 -0500: Verify and Repair volume “Macintosh HD”
Starting repair tool: 2012-02-25 23:07:43 -0500
2012-02-25 23:07:48 -0500: Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
2012-02-25 23:07:59 -0500: Checking Extents Overflow file.
2012-02-25 23:07:59 -0500: Checking Catalog file.
2012-02-25 23:17:19 -0500: Invalid sibling link
2012-02-25 23:17:19 -0500: Rebuilding Catalog B-tree.
2012-02-25 23:25:20 -0500: 2012-02-25 23:25:20 -0500: The volume Macintosh HD could not be repaired.

2012-02-25 23:34:22 -0500: Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.2012-02-25 23:34:22 -0500:
2012-02-25 23:34:22 -0500: Disk Utility stopped repairing “(null)” because the following error was encountered:

Filesystem verify or repair failed.
2012-02-25 23:34:22 -0500: [DUDiskController mountDisk] expecting DUDisk, but got nil
2012-02-25 23:34:22 -0500:

2012-02-25 23:35:22 -0500: Mount of “Macintosh HD” failed
2012-02-25 23:39:08 -0500: Mount of “Macintosh HD” failed
2012-02-25 23:46:52 -0500: Verify and Repair volume “Macintosh HD”
Starting repair tool: 2012-02-25 23:46:52 -0500

Thanks.

I guess I'll get up tomorrow and begin reinstalling everything on the off chance that that will work.

If not, it's off to New Egg to buy a new HD.

Anyone have any brilliant last ditch ideas before I wipe the drive?

The pics aren't worth paying lots of money for, but I will miss them.