Won't boot, won't install

The other day, my MacBook (which will be a year old on Dec. 17) wouldn't bootup. It stayed on gray screen with the progress indicator twirling. It finally booted up after three tries. Then I saw a log that it had performed a system check and passed, and I figured that was what it was doing and why it took so long to finally boot. Today the same thing happened. It wouldn't boot up in safe mode either. So I tried booting it from the install disc. That failed after about 10 minutes of going through install. I'm trying to do that again, and not sure if it will fail again. Does this mean I'm going to lose all my hard-drive files? Any idea of what else I can do? I've got an appointment at the Genius Bar tomorrow. Today is Black Friday, and of course the store is crazy today, so can't go there today. I've got Snow Leopard OS.
Thanks for any advice, support, compassion. Hopefully I won't need any pity.
Millie

Thank you so much for your reply. I tried the reinstall again (before I got your reply), and this time it worked. I think it worked because instead of sitting there horrified and staring at the screen, I went and took a shower and played with my dog who was picking up on my anxiety. Perhaps computers pick up on anxiety too (I make ze joke).
My main concern was losing all my files from the last 20 years (had a PC before I got the MAC last year, and didn't see the need to save my PC backups after my files were transferred to MAC -- now I see the error of that), as I have been stupid and not set up Time Machine in this whole year. That would have been truly truly terrible. So now that it's booted up, I've set up Time Machine and am doing a file backup first. Then will meet with the Genius Bar person tomorrow and see what else needs to be done.
I've printed out the instructions at the link you sent to put in my files. Thankfully my roommate has a computer that gives me access to the web. Looks like it won't be such a black Friday after all. Whew. And thank you again. Happy Holidays, and Happy AllTheDays.

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Thanks for this info:
Kappy wrote:
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Message was edited by: den.thed
Man the forum is acting funky tonight, I've bee trying to get in and post a reply for 20 min's.
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I am just going to jump on the band wagon (first post). Before I try all the good advise given for "no start"... Does this info point me in a different direction? thanks
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· iMac has been running slow. Has not been shutdown/restarted in months.
· Shutdown Computer, Power off, Power on. Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
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· Shift startup. Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
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· Startup. Get Apple logo and rotating timer. Hangs.
Arrrrggghhhhh.
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Last edited by Mr.Macdonald (2008-10-09 19:22:02)

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