Flashing folder start up...another one

I have tried all the suggestions below but interestingly resetting PRAM makes no difference, and holding the option key doesnt bring up disc options just leaves a white screen with a cursor.
This has happened twice now about 4 weeks apart and on both occaisions I have gone to bed frustrated with it only to find that next morning the option key works , I select the disc and everything is fine.I have since run the disc utiity check and runs fine.
When its failing I have left off for 30 mins or so but it still fails - it needs a night sleep !!!  Is this a heating problem or somewhere I read there is an internal battery that can need replacement, or is it just the hard disc starting to fail ???
Its an Imac 24 Early 2008 and I have recently upgraded to Maverick but I dont think thats relavent.
Any thoughts ???

Wired or wireless keyboard?
The process for using keyboard startup shortcuts can be slightly different for each type.
With a wired keyboard, you can hold down the startup shortcut keys before you restart your Mac.
But with a wireless keyboard you have to wait until after the startup sond occurs, and be quick enough to get the keys pressed before the boot process is much further along.

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