Need some help! iMac won't boot

[danmc00]

HELP!! Problem with 27"iMac. Disk utility can't repair disk
I came home from vacation and my iMac was locked on the screen saver. I held the power button down to turn it off and now it wants me to set up computer again. I tried to repair disk first, but it's says disk utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many files as possible, reformat disk, and restore your backed up files. I am new to Mac and don't know how to back up the files while I am on this screen. I just need to back up some pictures that I recently loaded into iPhoto. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Another bad thing is that I never setup time machine. Can I still back up my photos and iTunes account?

 

[ArchiMark]

If I were you, I'd either take this in to Apple store if one readily available or local Mac repair shop, etc...or if you have access to another computer, get DiskWarrior (either wait for disk in mail or download and make your own CD...).

Boot from DiskWarrior and have it check your drive....could be directory structure got corrupted....can happen...DiskWarrior can usually repair it and then when done you reboot and voila! your Mac is back.....

There are other good tools as well, such as TechToolPro and Data Rescue, etc....

You'll want to back up files to an external drive if you have one and if you don't have one, get one....

 

[danmc00]

Apple store isn't an option. Closest one to me is 5 hours away.

So if I download disk warrior on my PC laptop and make a disk of it, I can then take it to my mac and boot from it?

My mac is telling me to back up as much as I can now, but how can i do that with the screen I am getting?

I have an external 2TB hard drive that I back up to manually every once in a while, but I haven't done it in a couple of months. I have a lot of pictures and itunes movies imported since then.