Strange problems - can't set user admin, disk can't be repaired...

[jfn]

My 8f1099 laptop installation has been running rock-solid for months. Recently, however, I've noticed it frozen (totally frozen) when I wake up in the morning after it's been running all night. I though perhaps that was due to my installation of Dasher, which pops up the Dashboard after inactivity (so my Dashboard was running all night). Or perhaps it was due to the laptop running closed all night long (though it is on a port replicator so it's off the table mostly). Anyway, after that happening this morning it wouldn't boot again - hung at the gray apple screen. I ran Windows (dual-boot) and used Macdrive; I could see all my mac files. I booted off the installation DVD, and it said the disk needed to be repaired - but it failed (tried three times and always had the same errors). Now, strangely, it will boot, but there are some weird problems. Most notably, my sole account is no longer an admin - and when I used the root account to try it make it admin, it 'forgets' the setting, even if I simply switch to another tab and back in Accounts. But all my files are here. I tried repairing again and it still failed.

 

Anyone know what could be wrong? I have a large external hard drive on the way so I'll back up my files and then do a format and reinstall, I guess. But I don't want this to happen again. These midnight crashes worry me... do you think it's the drive, heat problems, or a software issue?

 

Thanks!

[jfn]

Well if anyone's interested, here's how i fixed the "can't set admin" problem:

Opened NetInfo manager, authenticated as root

Noticed that the "groups' directory was EMPTY!

Created a new group, "admin", with gid 80 (since it was 80 on my friend's mac)

 

Then I was able to set myself as an admin again. But... pretty scary that the groups directory, which has maybe 15 entries on my friend's computer, was suddenly empty on mine. Definitely going to reinstall soon. Ugh.