I have an older iMac. Recently it

[MaximumQ]

I have an older iMac. Recently it began displaying a flashing question mark. I've tried holding C and rebooting with both OS 8 OS X CDs in the drive, but it doesn't seem to be booting from them. I replaced the hard drive, same flashing question mark came up, and same results. I've also tried resetting the PRAM, to no avail.

I need some help here, folks! Any suggestions would be appreciated. We're not really a Mac shop here.

 

[Ecaboodle]

Hold down the OPTION key on bootup and see it you get any bootable volumes.

If you can't fix it in 20 minutes call someone who can.

 

[macgeneral]

Have you tried using a disk utility like Tech Tool or Norton?
You are not able to cold boot from a CD?

Did you install X on this older iMac?
What drive did you replace? I'd really like more details about the drive replacement too please. (system config, drive pulled, drive installed, OS on each.....)

Sorry but I need a lot more details to trouble shoot this over the web.
What I'd typically do is boot from an os 9 install cd holding down the "C" key from a cold boot (power off). Sounds like you did that - all be it with OS 8 and an X CD.

Try bootingh in to open firmware. I doubt that will work.
Do you know the operation for that? I don't really like to post it so if you want to have some tutelage e-mail me macgeneral@mac.com

the general