I very much need my computer working for college and I know just about nothing about Macs. My computer turns on and shows a flashing globe that lasts for less than a minute and then I get a flashing question mark thing. I've put in the OS X CD but the trouble is it doesn't let me click to option "archive and install" and i don't wont to lose everything. I just want my computer back...can anyone help me using some easy explanations!!! ok so I tried following your directions and I used the link you provided but I still have a problem. After I select the hard drive and volume, I click the options button, but they only let me choose Install Mac OS X for the first time or Erase and Install. I see the Archive and Install but it doesn't let me select that. Why? first off,thank you for all of your help so far. I'm actually in the disk utility right now and I went to Macintosh HD-First aid-verify disk-and it says "HFS volume verified." I don't really know what this even means. I am hoping this is a good thing. It says that the volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK. Is there anything else I am supposed to be doing under disk utility? thanks so much!

Have you tried booting and holding down the option key? It will bring up a page that shows all the bootable drives. If your internal HD shows up, click it and then the right arrow.

Hi! I've done all that. I'm just concerned about how to keep my files and everything. thanks in advance!

Do you have access to an external firewire drive? If you do, install OS X on it and then boot your Mac from it. If your internal drive is visible while booted from the firewire drive, use Migration Assistant to move all you files from the internal to the external. Then either reinstall the OS and use MA to move your stuff back, or use SuperDuper! to clone the external back to the internal. All this will do no good if the internal is not visible when booted from the external. But if this doesn't work let me know and we'll go from there. Have you tried running Disc Warrior on the iMac? Also, I would highly recommend getting an external drive for doing system backups. SuperDuper! has a free version that will do full, bootable backups. It would save you from the problem you are in now. :)

Always back up your work. Also try to keep your files in one folder that you have created so you will know where everything is when you need to backup, or perform a data recovery.