iMac - Panic Error & Failed Reinstall
Let's start with...I've been using Apple for 5 years but I am novice to operating system procedures and completely ignorant to a vast amount of technical terms.
It all started with a bad update. I got a panic error. I went online, found some info and booted in safe mode to perform a re-install. (Came with Leopard, upgraded to Lion but not Mountain Lion).
I let the install go overnight and at 3pm the next day, it was still on the same screen: grey, icon spinning & the universal "no" symbol prominently displayed where the Apple Icon would be.
I shut it down by holding the power key because after 20 hours...yeah I figured it was long enough.
Now - I can no longer boot in safe mode. Upon the attempt, it goes back to the no symbol.
I have never had a Kernel Panic before.
I have my original software, am hardlined to the internet and have not backed up. What do I do now?
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)