Can't get back into os x after os 9 boot.

Question

I've never booted into os 9 on my old imac g3, so I decided to try it. After i selected os 9 as the startup disk and restarted, it showed up as a floppy disk with a question mark installed. I guessed something isn't installed right. I don't really care about os 9 now, i'm just trying to get back into os 10.4 tiger. I've tried holding the option key during restart, and it only shows a refresh button, macintosh hd in the middle, and an arrow pointing toward the right. The refresh doesn't do anything, and the arrow takes me back to the floppy disk with the question mark. Can anybody help me boot back into os x??? Thanks.
-Aaron

Answer 1

Sometimes you can call Apple and get replacemebt disks reasonably with your Serial# handy!
Tough without a Tiger Disk, but try fsck...
To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
1. Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Hold CMD+s keys down at bootup.
Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
2. At the command-line prompt, type /sbin/fsck -fy
3. Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found:
** The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK 
If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message:
*** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *** 

Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), off the HD & use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, reboot once more.