Start up issues

I restarted my iBook and when it started re-loading OSX it just has a folder icon on the screen that flashes between a question mark and the finder logo. And now it does that every time I try to start up. I tried using my boot disk, but that only succeeded in getting me into disk utility. I'm running it right now, but I dont know if it will fix it.

if anyone knows what's going on, I could use your imput.

If your system does completely boots up. Go to system preferences -> start up disk. Under that window, click on your OS X start up disk again. Then select okay.

This is to make sure that your system is selecting the proper start up disk.

okay, somthing must be the matter with my harddrive.

I went to the "select startup disk" using the iBook boot disk, and my harddrive never comes up as an option.