MacBook Pro crashed, and then question mark folder appeared

Question

So I have a MacBook Pro, the other day I left my computer on sleep mode as I always do. I open my computer to find a screen that is slightly grey, like the picture link: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/55/126466201_486bff5598.jpg
I've had this happen to me before, and so I restarted it without worries.
First I held down the Power button for 3-5 seconds and then it powered off.
I'm not one to have patients as I am a teenager, so I quickly booted the computer on.
I had the signature Mac chime, and then it went to a grey screen, I went to get something to drink, as I remembered Mac's take quite the time to boot back up.
I came back to the same grey screen with a flashing folder with a question mark on it. I was now in panic mode. I lucky had my trustee iPhone by my side and quickly described my problem, found many articles on solutions, but nothing truly worked. I tried the "Hold C and turn on power at the same time", "Safe boot by holding Shift", "Try PRAM", and blah blah blah.
At first I was missing my Install disc, as many of the articles stated, my problem may be resolved by using the disc. I am a teenager, this disc could be ANYWHERE, so thinking on my feet, I went to my mothers laptop case and found her Install disc (which was 10.6.7, my computer was running 10.6.3). I didn't realize the difference until much later.
After a few hours of trying to fiddle around with my moms disc, I decided to go on a hard core hunt for my disc.
Hours later, my room in a huge mess, I found my disc, under my bed (of course).
It took me an hour to figure out how to get my moms stuck disc out of my MacBook.
I found that solution through another article.
So I put in my Install disc and I went to go backup my MacBook with my external hard drive, and I went through the steps required and I thought forsure it was fixed and done, until this: http://tinypic.com/r/hupto4/5
I'm stuck.
I've been sitting trying to fix this for at least 12 hours now, and I have had minimal success.
--Questions
1.) Could I have damaged something, by putting my moms install disc in?
2.) Where did my hard drive go? Could I have possibly deleted it?
3.) Is this the end for my MacBook Pro?
Specs:
MacBook Pro
Bought: Last year (but on the back it says 2010)
Snow Leoperd
OS X 10.6.3
External drive: My Passport (Link: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=440 )
Please provide a step-by-step fixture if possible.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Failed hard drive possible. Bring it to an Apple store or AASP.