<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV><DIV>On Feb 3, 2007, at 11:16 AM, Ashton Lawrence wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; ">YEs it does start up, but it doesn't get any further. I reach the screen where there's nothing but a flashing question mark.</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; ">I've tried to find some help on apples site, but still can't get it working. </SPAN></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV>The flashing question mark indicates that there is NO SYSTEM installed on your hard drive. You need to install a valid operating system in order to proceed any further than you have gotten so far.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>A good bet is to try searching eBay for a Mac OS installation CD (of whatever version you want to install) and buy it. Another good source would be a local Mac User Group if there is one in your area.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>When you get the installation CD, start your Mac and open the CD drive tray, insert the CD, close the tray, and then wait for the Mac to recognize the valid OS on the CD and boot. After the Mac finishes booting, you will see an icon that says something like "Install". Double-click that icon and follow the instructions on screen to install a valid OS on your Mac.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I would recommend using the drive utility on the CD to initialize the drive before installing the OS if you are going to use OS-9. It will be in a folder on the CD. If you are going to use OS-X, it will give you an opportunity to erase the drive before installing the OS.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Welcome to the world of Macintosh.</DIV></BODY></HTML>