removing confidential info

It sounds like a HW error to me - I'd guess the disk is dying. (?)
Have you got a /var/log/dmesg or /var/log/boot.log file ?
Basically there should be a log that lists what happened for HW checks during boot - not sure what its called in RHEL4.

You could/should also try http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/lin...r-hard-drives/.

I would definitely do some serious backups asap.
AFTER that you could also try a fsck...

NB: RedHat will help if you have/get a paid support subscription with them but see the support dates here https://access.redhat.com/support/po...pdates/errata/

....

Totally different file, with (in general) totally different information.
dmesg holds the boot, hardware detection, driver installation, and system IPL results. Generally, once the system is completely up and running it is not written again until the next boot.
Messages is updated with kernel signal and informational messaged during operation.

It does make sense to check on what was detected during initial setup. It is good information in itself, but it also gives extra meaning to some of the information found in later logs.

I agree with the chrism01, and want to add that you might want to pick a time for a full diagnostic analysis (testing) of your entire hardware platform starting with the testing built into the BIOS. Not because hardware is the problem, but to rule that out as a factor. No amount of fixing software will repair a hardware failure, so it is good to know what hardware you can trust!

Even before that, though, I would check that .logout file. It may be doing something that will provide a clue.

I would also check the 'last' report, it rarely has detail useful for this kind of issue, but rare does not mean never. Also the security log records, in case that there is something interesting in the record of the account startup.