Ok.. macbook wont go past grey screen.

ok so i was normally using my macbook(despite its shutdowns, ive been using it with the shutdown problem for a while now..)
anyway, it all began with my USB ports// my macbook wouldn;t recognize anything.
then i tried playing a DVD.. my macbook asked me what i wanted to do wit the BLANK cd. (um, it wasnt blank!! it was a movie)
so i decided to restart, and viola. screwed!!!
now my macbook is stuck on the start up screen. it wont go beyond the apple+scrolling sign. thats all it stays at. so i put in my installation CD 1, and restarted it with the C button pressed.. ran disk utility and it shows there is nothing wrong ( verified and no repair needed to disk)
i removed the installation CD and tried restarting. nothing. it stays on the start up screen...
help anybody? week 20 macbook.. going to call apple on friday, coz i get back to town on thursday night. someone tell me wat to do. plz..
thx

Okay, since booting to safe mode didn't seem to work try booting to the install disk one.
To do this put the disk in the computer when it is turned on. Next shut the computer down (hold down the power key until it turns off). Then turn the computer on and hold down C key until you are asked to select your main language. (I am going to assume English.) After selecting the language press the arrow. The installer will load, don't proceed with the installer. Instead wait for the top menu bar to appear. Select "Utility," then Disk utility. In disk utility select the Mac HD. Then make sure that the First Aid tab is selected. Press the "verify disk" if there are any errors click "repair disk". If the errors are not repaired the first time around try repairing once more. Once it is repaired double check by clicking verify disk.
Here is an article with some possible error messages
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302672
To get out of the install disk quit disk utilty then go to installer by the blue apple, go to the Installer Menu and then quit installer and then restart.
Doing the above will in the very least save you some time on the phone with Apple. If you can't repair the disk with disk utility write down any errors and let Apple know.
I hope this helps.
p.s. the steps in the article in my previous steps do also apply to 10.4

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Ok.. macbook wont go past grey screen.

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