imac won't boot?

Hi, my kids informed me the imac only boots to screen with an apple and spinning wheel. I unplugged and try restarting same problem dusted off the box that has the original OS in it which is brand new and trybooting from he discs it said it could not because of anewer OS when I chose to archive current files etcc.. and re installne OS after 35 miute t tated the disk was no good? I never used them prior to this? I ran a aHWtest and other things were accessible off disk but can not bbot system?

Lost in Connecticut

Andrew

Ask your kids if they did anything they usually wouldn't do. They might have installed something that might have broken it.

If you have upgraded to - say Leopard and then use the Tiger disk to try and re install the OS that could give you issues. Try booting off the install disk and after selecting the language, find disk utility in menu drop down and erase the HD and try the install again.

I'm having the same issue, with the exception that on startup I just get a blank screen. Additionally, I can't find the OS disc. I somehow managed to start it properly once and ran its virus protection program, but it didn't detect anything. It's really got me stumped.

ImmortalResolve

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. You cannot find the Install Disk and you do not have a back up - Living dangerously it seems.
You could buy a new OS disk and start again. What OS and what hardware do u have - it helps when giving advice to know the parameters.