Weird Icon when i start up my mac

A While back i got a used PowerBook G4 from a Tech IT and when i start it up i hear a chime, The white screen flashes for a second and then it goes to a grey screen with the icon of a folder, and on the folder a question mark and some icon like a face with a line down the middle appear and flash back and forth. I got it to boot up in safe mode once but i couldn't click an icon because my track pad doesn't work, so i plugged in a ps/2 mouse but i had to reboot because the computer didn't recognize it. Every time i try to boot up in safe mode the white screen shows up for maybe 5 to 10 seconds and then it goes straight to the grey screen. I think it has some thing to do with corrupted operating system. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Message was edited by: cullen88

Hello cullen88,
First of all, Welcome to the  Discussion forums!
I have a feeling from your description you did not receive any disks with the computer? If you do have disks for the computer are they the original install disks or a set of full retail install disks for Panther 10.3?
Has the computer ever booted normally before this or is this how you receive the computer?
See: " Your Mac won't start up in Mac OS X (Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier)"
See if any of the information and troubleshooting in that Apple Knowledge Base Article can help. Post back if you need clarification about any of the information contained in it.
littleshoulders

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