Mac os9 flashing question mark

Hello! My first post here on the forums my apologies for jumping straight in with a question!

I've been having to swap between mac osx 10 and 0s9 and a powerbook g4 for a quark to indesign conversion project. I have been doing this via the system preferences - start up disc method.

All was going well.

When i came in this morning to switch the mac on, it's obviously trying to start in os9, which is the last system we left it on, on shut down last night.

However, it's not starting up, it's just flashing a question mark and smiley face icon. I understand this is because it can't find the os, and we just need to "remind" it of where it is - but we can't find the disc, and i don't know if there is a way of getting it to boot up in either osx10 or os9 without it?

first option - restart holding down the option key - let us know what you get

Hi Bobtomay - i did that, i get nothing, it remains the same, flashing face and question mark

Anything else? I really wish my colleague hadn't misplaced the os x disc, i get the feeling that would have made things a tad easier?!

Yep that install disk is critical. You need to boot from the disc and run Repair Disc.

I've sent him off on a mission to find that disc then! Wish him luck!

Hope he has not sold it? No supper until he arrives with it.