Imac G4 wont boot past grey screen desperatly want to fix it!!!!

Hi there,
Please can someone help.....
I got a Imac G4 at the weekend for a bargin, but it wont boot up.  When i turn it on it makes the noise and comes up with a grey screen with the apple logo and the loading circle.  It doesnt go past this screen and after about 15 mins turns itself off.
Any ideas how i can get this running again (havent tried anything yet to be honest as im not sure what to do).  I love these machines as i just think they are querky and would love to get it working again to use as my home pc (as even though its old it will still probably be quicker than my old microsoft laptop)
Thanks!

Did you try a PRAM reset?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
>I can't get the disk drive to open either
If  the optical drive tray cannot be opened, what happens if you hold down the mouse button during startup?
As a brody indicated, a faulty hard drive cannot be ruled out. Instructions for removing this drive can be found in the ifixit.com guides as well.
If you can gain access to the optical drive, the best way forward would be to use an appropriate Mac OS X system CD in an attempt to start from that disc (holding down the C key).
If it is not possible to locate a correct system CD right now, another way could possibly be to try to boot from an Ubuntu CD for PowerPC instead (once again, holding down the C key) just to see whether the computer is capable of booting at all.
Jan.

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    Austin
    I looked at that article for <10.3.9
    The closest symptom was the blank grey screen. Though it did not mention the addition of the apple like my case. It suggests disk utility, and PMU reset, which I did and didn't help.
    I looked at some of the other symptoms fixes for the blue-screen, -OS9 is not installed on the computer, and single user and safe modes also don't work.
    I have an appointment at the Apple Store for this afternoon. I have the AppleCare protection plan. What in your opinion can they do, that telephone tech support couldn't suggest, besides performing the archive and install, that I can't do at home, and don't want to do anyway?
    Also, seeing as the internal drive does mount, and I can access the data, why do you think that DW might fix it? I know they have a proprietary method, but I did replace the directory with TTP.
    DW did perform miracles for me in the past, but then only when the disk wouldn't mount.
    Right now my plan is to see the Genius this afternoon, if he's got nothing new to offer, I can buy DW rev 39 at the Apple Store, and run it there.
    I guess barring any other advice, if you feel that DW can do the trick, I could buy it before seeing the Genius, and if it works, cancel my appointment.<br>
    Powerbook G4 1.67mhz 1gb RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

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