what does this mean:8/8/11 7:56:00 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.SystemStarter) Failed to count the number of files in "/System/Library/StartupItems": No such file or directory

Check your login items - System Preferences/Accounts/Login Items. Disable or get rid of what you do not need.

Disconnect all peripherals from your computer. Boot from your install disc & run Repair Disk from the utility menu. To use the Install Mac OS X disc, insert the disc, and restart your computer while holding down the C key as it starts up. Select your language. Once on the desktop, select Utility in the menu bar. Select Disk Utility. Select the disk or volume in the list of disks and volumes, and then click First Aid. Click Repair Disk. Restart your computer when done. Repair permissions after you reach the desktop-http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751 and restart your computer.

It means that the indicated folder has been deleted. It's of no consequence, but if you want to stop the messages, launch the Terminal application, copy or drag -- do not type -- the line of text below into the window, and press return:

sudo mkdir -m755 /System/Library/StartupItems

You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. You can then quit Terminal.

There is absolutely no reason to do anything with your login items, to boot from your installation disc, to repair your disk, or to repair permissions. Any of those actions would be a complete waste of time.