It sounds very much like the main directory listing on the hard drive has been corrupted during the events that led up to the original crash.> I can boot from the CDs, but it won't let me do anything to my disk.It just cannot see it. I.e. when I come to destination disk for choice of installation there is nothing displayed.I've just been looking on the Apple site about the 'flashing question mark' and they say:"Typically blinking question marks are caused by: damaged or missing System Software
That will make the hard drive unreadable.
However it does not mean that all the other data on the disk is lost.
You should be able to use the disk again after it has been completely reformatted.
BUT reformatting will destroy your data.
The problem is how to recover the data first.
If the only things on that hard drive are the System Software and Applications, then its not too much of a head ache as these can simply be reinstalled (a pain in the neck but not disastrous) and there's no pressing need to recover any data.
On the other, if all your precious work is on the drive then you will be desperate to recover everything.
I'm not expert in OSX but in OS9 and below this can be done using the "unerase everything" feature Norton Utilities. You will need to be able to boot from the Norton CD and to have another drive connected to the computer that you are recovering.
Its a hell of a job and your files, though recovered, are strewn about willy-nilly as there is no folder structure left to organise them.
At this point you realise that your remaining month of warranty is a godsend! (It usually happens the day after its expired).
An Authorised Apple Centre (not just a reseller) should be your next port of call.
Whilst not obliged to recover your data (as you see its a messy job) they might just be able to do some of it..... but only if you have an extensive list of file names ready to give them.
--
Best
..ED
Ed Horwich
md & information architect
PACIFICSTREAM.COM Ltd Audit Report Advise Design & Implement for the Web
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