Macbook + flashing question mark + unable to boot on install dvd

Hi folks,

I'm having a problem with my mid-2007 white macbook (2.16, 120gb, 512).

A few days ago I was burning a DVD with iDVD and for some reason my MB stalled, and the screen went black. When I rebooted all I could hear is my HD ticking and a flashing question mark in a box. So obvious explanation is my HD is resting in peace. I wasn't able to boot from the install DVD. Couldn't zap RAM etc so the boot key commands didn't work.

So I bought a new HD (WD Scorpio Blue 320gb SATAII) and placed it in my MB, boot it up and... still the same problem (chime -> grey screen -> long time -> very long time -> folder with flashing question mark). Unable to boot from DVD.

Anyone have had a similar issue? Any advice?
Should I give it to Apple and let them fix it (probably really expensive?)

Thanks in advance! Hope the mac-community can come up with a solution.

PS: I know there's lots of threads about the flashing question marks but most of them can fix it with a new HD + install DVD and that's not the case with me.

Hi,

thanks for the reply!

I've solved the problem. There seemed to be a problem with the open firmware password that made all the key commands not work.

So problem solver: if you have an EFI-password set, make sure you press Alt just before the grey screen shows up and after you've given in your open firmware password, you can install OS X.