IMac will not boot up?? Help please!

Hi,
I have a 24" Imac which is around 16 months old.
Yesterday I was surfing on the net, when suddenly the screen darkened, like a curtain falling down from top to bottom. You could still see the screen but the desktop was now darker. Also a black box in the middle of the screen appeared, telling me to restart the computer, this came up in a few other languages including chinese.
When I restarted the computer, I get the apple chime, the screen goes a very light grey, then I get three loud bleeps, and that's it.
I have tried booting up holding down the 'C' key on start-up with my original install disc, but nothing.
Does anyone know what has happened?
Any help will be greatly appreciated, many thanks, Paul.

HI and Welcome to Apple Discussions...
*"Also a black box in the middle of the screen appeared, telling me to restart the computer, "*
That is referred to as a +kernel panic+. To here to Resolve Kernel Panics
Carolyn

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Call U.S. iPod and Mac technical support: 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273)
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If you have the applecare protection plan, I'd ask about "onsite"
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Message was edited by: slimpikkunz

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IMac will not boot up?? Help please!

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