Thanks guys, sorry for the lateness in replying to your suggestions
1) The drive went bad again, so this is the 3rd time in 4-1/2 years, if it was OTHER than an iMac I would have no problem swapping the bugger out myself, but iMacs are difficult to work on.
2) So I just got the computer back with a new DVD drive and a bigger HD and have got everything running again.
I'll try the "disc image" route and will let you know.
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
f