transferring data (after losing all non-root logins)

I recently forgot my root password, rebooted single-user and changed it,
and immediately afterwards the computer denied the existence of any
non-root users (home directories still there for those that had them,
they still have login shells, etc.). This was the only change made to
the system. This is a -current system from late April that was in storage
for a while. I was planning on wiping this system to install 5.1-R anyway,
but I need to back up the data first. I can't burn a CD because I didn't
have mkisofs installed and can't install it (no man user), I can't run
sshd (no ssh user), and I can't figure out how to make telnet allow root
logins (I know, a Very Bad Idea(tm) usually, but it's not a security issue
when I'm allowing it from one IP for 5 minutes and will be changing
passwords anyway).

So... I'm think of trying to find another hard drive, to install that and
transfer the data. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks,

-David
(please cc:)