Flashing ? at Starup!!!

[belher01]

I just start using Mac computers (2 days ago) and it seems to go very well, but I don´t know pretty much what I did that now I can't start the computer I just get a flashing question mark in a folder. Added to this my cd unit is not working (seems to be broken). As far as I know the iMac is running on OS 8.6 and to make things worse I don't have nothing of the restore discs and/or installer software (the computer was a present to my daugther).
octavio_beltran@mexico.com

[crap freakboy]

http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/topic/33214-1.html

hope this helps, either way I'd personally update to OS 9.2 or if possible OSX.

don't know what Mac your daughter has but OSX runs sweet on my iMacDV G3 400 Mhz with its crappy 8 meg graphics card, so you dont need a high-end G4/G5 to run the genius that is Jaguar.

[e-coli]

The only thing you can do is start it up off of a norton utilities disk. Insert the disk, and hold down "C" while you turn the computer on. Keep holding down "C", it will start up off the CD.

Or you could just buy OS X, and do a fresh install. Same deal, hold down "C".

If your CD drive is broken, you are out of luck. Go take it to a shop to have it looked at. That's the only thing you can do.

[solvs]

Sounds like it can't find your hard drive (or your OS). Seeing as how the CD drive isn't working either, it's possible it could be something as simple as a bad IDE cable. Or a software issue. Or the drives went bad.

If you know what you're doing, buy a new OS. Try to install it, if it can see the CD drive at start-up. If that doesn't work, try a new CD drive, IDE cable, and/or hard drive. Go to someplace like http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/ for help.

If you're not that technically inclined, take it to a repair shop. One that specializes in Macs.