I think I screwed up my mac

Ok I got this old mac, its from 2001 and I think it has about 1 gig. I was trying to change the screensaver on it and I had already changed it with no problem, then later I wanted to change it again and had double clicked it and it seemed to just sit and think for too long so I went ahead and 'forced quit' and then tried again with the same result, so I let it sit and finally a window came up and said I needed to delete some files from the start up disk, so I looked up how to get to it and it said to click the apple icon and select 'system preferences' and open it up, so I did, it then asked me to choose three options to restart the computer with and I randomly picked one and the computer restarted and it now only shows a floppy disc icon with a blinking question mark. Nothing I press on the keyboard will do anything, did I kill my mac or something? I hope I didnt lose everything on it, any help would be appreciated.

Its an IMAC os 10, I think its a panther and I'm not 100% sure, we've put in a startup disk and the icon is now a computer with a smiley face and it's been sitting for an hour but thats it and the keyboard does nothing still.

Put the install disc in aand restart holding the "c" key.
This should bring up the installer to reinstall the OS, which is probably a good idea after so long.

What if that wont work? the only way to restart it is to unplug it cause the keyboard still does nothing, I did unplug it though and restarted it holding 'c' but it goes back to the floppy disc with a blinking question mark and then after a minute or two goes to the computer icon with a smileyface. Should I throw it out a window? that would be fun, but very counter-productive,lol

You don't need to reinstall the OS just yet.

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/93819-basic-os-x-mac-troubleshooting.html

Someone just told me to find the original startup disk that came with the computer, if my old boss that gave me the computer can find it thats probably what I'll end up doing, its a shame to lose all my music, I had music that I had lost the original cds to, oh well, thanks for helping you guys.

buzzardbutt said:

I ... restarted it holding 'c' but it goes back to the floppy disc with a blinking question mark and then after a minute or two goes to the computer icon with a smileyface.

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That's ok. The question mark is up temporarily while it looks for a valid startup disk or disc. The smiley face indicates that it found one, and it is happy about that. However, you did not indicate what happens next. Does it then respond to the keyboard?

No it stays that way, I went and bought a 'Discwarrior' and that didnt do anything either. I dont think the keyboard works at all. I've tried plugging up a different keyboard and its still the same. We don't know what to do anymore.

buzzardbutt said:

... it then asked me to choose three options to restart the computer with and I randomly picked one and the computer restarted and it now only shows a floppy disc icon with a blinking question mark.

Click to expand...

I take it that you don't recall what the three options were, nor which one you selected. ?

By the way, you should avoid the "unplug to restart" method. Will it go to sleep? If so, let it.