Need urgent help! Mac OS X won't start up. Disk Utility can't find harddisk

I started up my computer today, and instead of booting into Mac OS X, the screen shows a folder with a question mark on it. I can startup my machine using my Panther disks that i've got, but when I go to disk utility, it can't find my hard disk. Looks like the hard disk is not mounting at all.
If i try to install Mac OS X, that also doesn't give me a hard disk to install it on..
I really need help on this because I was supposed to get work done today.
Would diskwarrior sort this problem out?
Cheers

Hi, Ken.
Start with the troubleshooting steps outlined in "Mac OS X: Your Mac won't start up."
If you're running Tiger (your profile does not indicate what version of Mac OS X you are using) and you only have the Panther install discs, do not use Disk Utility from the Panther discs on your startup disk. See "Only use Mac OS X 10.4-compatible disk utilities with Mac OS X 10.4 volumes."
I recommend you have someone at home send you all the discs you should have with you (Apple Hardware Test, Tiger Install Discs, Software Restore and Install discs, etc.) for your eMac by overnight courier, e.g. FedEx.
When you recover from this problem, it's also time to consider investing in a comprehensive Backup and Recovery solution. For advice on the backup and recovery solution I employ, see my "Backup and Recovery" FAQ.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

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