Turning on iMac G5 power PC only shows ? mark inside a tiny file folder on

When i booted up my G5 iMac today only a tiny file folder appeared in the center of the screen, inside it was a ? symbol alternating with a blue/black head cartoon. Apple technician said reset the PRAM. Immpossibe to hold down 4 keys and also turn the power back on on this 17 inch G5 with the power button on the back. I restarted with disk# ! from CD that came with the G5, but couldn't get it to install anything, then wouldn't shut down by a Force quit. Finally got it turned off. Now I am on old iMac trying to get help, as it is too late to get help from Apple support on the phone.
Has anyone seen this "?" mark icon before? Help!

Hi Poikaa,
first of all: WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSIONS!
Why is it impossible to reset the PRAM?
The little folder with the "?" in it means, that the
computer cannot find a bootable system folder. This
is a very common icon and most long-time Mac users
saw this somewhen during their career.
Insert the Tiger install DVD and boot while holding
down the c-key. Once the installer has started and
you selected the language, go to the MENU and select
"Disk Utility". Repair the disk and repair
permissions.
Quit disk utility and restart while holding down the
Apple-Option-P-R keys until you heard the startup
chime for 3 times. Then release the keys and let it
boot. Does the problem persist? yes, it did persist
addendum to my problem:
I inserted the start up disk, as instructed by an Apple technician that said he could solve all my problems, I could not reset the Pram, as i could not turn on the power button, while holding down the rest of the keys. Button is on the back of the machine to the left.
after many repeat manipulations as directed by the Apple person, none of which helped, he turned me over to an expert. He was more helpful and ran a hardware test, which said all parts passed, and the folder icon and ? mark meant that the machine couldn't find the Start up and it would not boot, and I had to take it into an Apple store. I had told them the machine was beeping, found out that meant the Hardrive was crashing.
That's what they told me at the Apple store and that none of my data could be salvaged. Under my service plan i bought, the new hard drive is covered. But because of all the manipulations the technicians online told me to do, the data was impossible to salvage. So i am without my computer, and will have a Tabula rasa with nothing saved on my one year old purchase of the 2005 iMacG5, which was a demo, but only a year from manufacture. Apple store says hardrives only have a 3-5 year life. How about mine two years? I am very depressed about App;e products now, and their technicians help online.

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