MacBook Displays Startup Screen With Folder and Question Mark

[parpart33]

When I try to start my MacBook, the computer will come to the light blue screen and instead of starting up it will display a blinking question mark inside a folder. It's running Tiger on a 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo and the software is up to date. Any help would be great, thanks for looking.

 

[toolbox]

This is telling you the computer can't find a valid system folder. Are you able to put your Tiger dvd / cd in and boot of it? Put the disk in and hold "C" to boot or the "option" key to see a list of bootable devices.

Once you boot of it, select the utilities menu and run disk utility and repair permissions and verify your hard disk

 

[parpart33]

Cannot get a CD to load into the drive.

 

[CanadaRAM]

Cannot get a CD to load into the drive.

More detail needed... will the CD (DVD) not go in physically?
(Is there a CD already in the drive? Hold the mounse button down throughout a restart.)
Or it will but it doesn't boot?

 

[parpart33]

The drive will not physically allow me to load the disk into the slot.

 

[CanadaRAM]

OK, lets do this one tiny step at a time then.

Is there a CD already in the drive?

 

[toolbox]

IF there is a cd already in the drive, press you mouse button down and then turn the unit on, it should eject the disc if one is in the drive.