White screen, nothing runs

Try a safeboot into safemode:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

If this does not work try resetting both PRAM and SMC:

Reset PRAM:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

Reset SMC:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

If these do not help then try booting with the install DVD again, with the following:

1. Insert the DVD into the Mac while it's powered on.

2. Shutdown the Mac.

3. Power-on the Mac and immediately press and hold the "C-key" until you get to the Installation Select Language screen. Select your language then continue.

4. The next screen is the Welcome screen, from there go to the top toolbar and select Utilities/Disk Utilities.

5. From DU, select your drive from the left and First Aid from the right, should be selected by default.

6. From the First Aid window press to run "Repair Disk". If "Repair Disk" returns with errors then run again until it reports no errors found.

7. From the First Aid window press to run "Repair Disk Permissions".

Once these steps are complete try a normal reboot.

You need to first try resetting the SMC. The general instructions are to remove all power sources, including the battery, press the power button for 5-10 seconds to bleed off any residual charge, then put the battery back in and plug it in if you wish.

If that doesn't work, you'll want to take it somewhere to be looked at.

Does Disk Utility give you an exact error message?

The odds are against DU being able to repair the damage--you'd need a stronger tool, such as Disk Warrior. Otherwise, you can probably do an Erase & Install of OS X to get the machine back on track.

~Lyssa

Most likely your disk is shot. You could purchase Disk Warrior as suggested by Lyssa to possibly fix the problem and DW may allow you to salvage your data. If you already have backups of your data I recommend performing a format (You will loose all data) then a fresh install of OSX.

Now keep in mind that DU's "Repair Disk" found an error and could not fix the error. So there is a good possibility that once you perform the fresh install you will have problems again because the disk error still exist.

My recommendations stand with Lyssa, but you need to be ready to replace the drive.

Does Disk Utility still see the drive?

If so, the only thing to do at this point is to find a way to backup the data on the drive, use Disk Utility to reformat it, then try installing OS X.

~Lyssa

Here's what you need to do in order to erase the drive:

*Click the drive's icon in the left-hand pane (this is the one with manufacturer name & capacity).
*Click the Erase tab.
*Set *Volume Format* as +Mac OS Extended (Journaled)+
*Set Name as +Macintosh HD+
*Click the Erase button.

Once this finishes (shouldn't take long) try Installing OS X again.

~Lyssa

That's a communication error with the drive.

The most likely culprits are:

1) dying hard drive
2) broken cable connecting hard drive to logicboard
3) damaged logicboard

I would check for a warranty on the hard drive and get it replaced if at all possible. You'd want to remove the hard drive and contact the manufacturer of the drive.
You can also try removing & reinstalling the drive to see if that helps.
If the above fails, you may even want to bring the computer to an Apple store for diagnostics.

~Lyssa

Hmm, that makes me wonder if the drive is formatted correctly. In the Disk Utility window, select the hard drive icon (top-most icon in the left-hand pane), then look in the lower-left corner for *Partition Scheme*. It should say "GUID" or "Apple Partition Map." Which do you see listed?

I'm heading off to work, but one more question--are you using a disc from another Mac, or a retail copy of OS X?

I'll check this thread once I'm home tonight.

~Lyssa