iMac DV SE Woes

[Reg Whitely]

Dear WAMUGgers

My friend Paul in Kalbarri needs help. He has an iMac DV SE I think, 
running pre OS X software. Probably 8.6 up to 9.2 - not sure.

After some interesting previous startups it now will not go past the 
loading chime and then shows a grey screen. Nothing more happens. Is 
this fatal? Is it hardware or software, do you think? What can you 
advise as I'd like to get it running again for him properly soon!

Regards

Reg