White Screen of Death interesting problems

tl;dr version: tonight got white screen of death on imac osx, flashing folder question mark. important thing me being sure don't lose on hd if it's not late. know later can dvd drive, reinstall , good. if can't, still not lose data. i've tried tips don't involve cd drive, , i'm not able boot safe mode reason, though keyboard worked different part. typed out full series of events below. reading.

i've read advice how fix wsod , blinking folder , question mark, haven't been able fix problem yet far.

thing havent been able try involving cddrive because mine has been broken long time , dont have external @ moment.

heres how started. computer on, cant remember programs open. sure final cut, itunes, , safari, more.

left 4 hours, when came screen black device had plugged usb lit up, indicating comp still on. moved mouse, expecting come out of sleep mode, did. tried keyboard, nothing. not having time before had leave, held power button shut off.

4 hours later turned on again. made sound, never got past white screen, no loading signal or anything. sat there forever tried basic tips. unplugging usb devices, disconnecting power, said here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570

unable start safe mode. holding shift, or shift-command-v had no effect @ all. keyboard works because next tried resetting pram , nvram, holding command-option-p-r keys , did thing chimed again, still remained white screen.

later, after white screen had been on while, got flashing folder , question mark. tried tips here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440

holding option key did nothing. when start up, it's white while, flashing, won't stop.

steps i'm left involve cd drive i'm wondering how hard external dvd drive , have work without installing anything. need return afterwards since i'm broke.

 

there aren't many reasons grey boot screen flashing folder/question mark. means computer cannot find system files, , cannot boot.

chances hard drive shot , turning machine on, doing more damage it.

stop.

take professional see if data recoverable , @ cost.

have hard new hard drive installed (or install yourself) , reload os.

there no quick fixes dead hard drive.

 

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