You're Welcome Plastcmoldsman!
Do you have the system backed up? If not I suggest that you create a backup ASAP!
And until you resolve this issue, I also suggest that you do not use the
Mac, for any other purpose.
Have you run the
Apple Hardware Test?
"80G hard drive about 70 used."
The HD is dangerously low on available space. Which can lead to directory corruption, and possible loss of data.
A general consensus, depending on how the
Mac OS X system is used, is to have at least 10%, to as much as 20%, of the total HD capacity, available at all times.
More info here
Problems From Insufficient .... Free Hard Disk Space, authored by
Dr Smoke.
Also review this document
Freeing Space On Your Mac OS X Startup Disk, authored by
Dr Smole.
"...but I have tons of pictures and graphics that would overload their system."
If you have access to another
Firewire enabled
Mac, you could attempt to retrieve that data, using
Firewire Target Disk Mode.
And
Thank You, for extending the
courtesy, of awarding
in
Discussions, as this is not a requirement, nor mandatory, but is much appreciated!
ali b