imac 400 startup

[beddog]

this Imac has a flahing question mark/double face. I learned this means there is a system folder problem. I can get to a dos like prompt. don't know what to do there (mainly pc user). I tried booting from Norton, lie I do on my PC, now it won't eject. Please help.

 

[mac_mogul]

To eject a system Disk like that, hold down the Command (apple) key and the E key after the startup chime. Your disk should pop right out. If not, you'll have to get a straightened Paperclip and insert it into the emergency eject hole to the right side of the CD slot in the slot-loading iMacs. You can see a small hole to insert it into. After you use this though, you will have to force reboot the iMac to get it to start thinking again.

 

[g5orbust]

Hold down the mouse during start up. that should eject the cd without trouble.

But the text mode you saw is called Single User Mode and is used in the event of a system error in which the OS cannot be loaded to try hardware resets and such.