1 problem, then 2, then 3. Please help, I can't stand no more.

Question

I am having so many problems with my MAC PRO I don't even know where to start.
I'd say the problem started a few month ago when my Pioneer DVR-111PB optical drive started to fail. He could recognize some DVDs and not others. I realized it was a hardware problem so decided to change it. Since I had a MAcbook at hand, I used it to burn while I was looking for the drive. But then I got used to it and didn't look for a drive anymore. Then, second problem, the original mighty mouse as well started to fail. I tried to repair it but only tape around the chord could do the trick, but it got more complicated to use, so again I used my notebook to control the MAC PRO; This time, I didn't last long to buy a new mouse and I opted for the new magic mouse. It got here pretty fast, but before it got here, my MAC PRO one morning wouldn't start, or better would give me that white grey screen with the question mark. I know it means something like the system has lost his path and a way to recover is to start the system from the install disk, do a repair and you're good. Right, but you remember I have no drive!! So , I look for a drive on the internet and buy a Samsung (Samsung SH-S222). Two weeks later, here I am with my new drive. Put it on, insert the Install OSX DVD, and then nothing. Not even a question mark. Tries a few times with the C or Option key press. Nothing appears on the screen. Just the fan making a loud noise for a minute or two, the led of the MAC PRO stay still, then the fan stops and the light starts to flicker (?) Actually, the question mark appears when there are no DVD in the drive. Tries this PRAM thing (commandoption+PR) nothing happens. So what is going on? Where does the problem come from? When I insert the DVD and start the system the light of the drive is functioning which makes me think the system is reading from the drive but the screen stays black. I changed the position form master to slave with no results. What else can I do? Ah, yeah, one more thing, the magic mouse is wireless, it means I have to activate bluetooth for it to work. How am I going to get it working on the MAC PRO without activating bluetooth first. OMG, i think I am stuck here. Send it to a repair center, no way, the closest one is 2.000 miles away. So , any clue?

Answer 1

Was really really hard to read one long single paragraph.
When "?" shows all you need(ed) to do was go to Startup Disk control panel and set the default boot drive. If it doesn't boot, and the Option key doesn't work though, then you need another boot drive to find (hard drive).
And you should always always have bootable backups (clones).
A copy of SuperDuper or CCC
And of course Alsoft Disk Warrior
And and "Emergency" boot drive.
I never use or need to rely on the DVD other than to install the OS the first time, or to have a pristine clean new OS for my emergency boot drive, at least for repairs.
I am having so many problems with my MAC PRO I don't even know where to start.
I'd say the problem started a few month ago when my Pioneer DVR-111PB optical drive started to fail. He could recognize some DVDs and not others.
I realized it was a hardware problem so decided to change it. Since I had a MAcbook at hand, I used it to burn while I was looking for the drive. But then I got used to it and didn't look for a drive anymore.
Then, second problem, the original mighty mouse as well started to fail.
I tried to repair it but only tape around the chord could do the trick, but it got more complicated to use, so again I used my notebook to control the MAC PRO;
This time, I didn't last long to buy a new mouse and I opted for the new magic mouse. It got here pretty fast, but before it got here...
my MAC PRO one morning wouldn't start, or better would give me that white grey screen with the question mark.
I know it means something like the system has lost his path and a way to recover is to start the system from the install disk, do a repair and you're good.
Right, but you remember I have no drive!! So , I look for a drive on the internet and buy a Samsung (Samsung SH-S222).
Two weeks later, here I am with my new drive. Put it on, insert the Install OSX DVD, and then nothing. Not even a question mark.
Tries a few times with the C or Option key press.
Nothing appears on the screen.
Just the fan making a loud noise for a minute or two, the led of the MAC PRO stay still, then the fan stops and the light starts to flicker
(?) Actually, the question mark appears when there are no DVD in the drive. Tries this PRAM thing (commandoption+PR) nothing happens.
So what is going on?
Where does the problem come from?
When I insert the DVD and start the system the light of the drive is functioning which makes me think the system is reading from the drive but the screen stays black. I changed the position form master to slave with no results.
What else can I do?
Ah, yeah, one more thing, the magic mouse is wireless, it means I have to activate bluetooth for it to work. How am I going to get it working on the MAC PRO without activating bluetooth first.
OMG, i think I am stuck here. Send it to a repair center, no way, the closest one is 2.000 miles away. So , any clue?