File folder? it turns on ok, but then the screen is blank white and a little file folder appears in the middle of the screen.  a question mark and little face blink in the middle. it wont let me do anything.

THey best thing is to get a program called disk warrior which you can use to recover your data and check the hard drive. If recovery fails then try reinstall. But if this fails get a new hard drive and install mac OS on it.

Robert

What you are seeing is the Mac's PROM telling you that it cannot find the "System Folder" The System Folder contains all the components of the operating system itself.
You have an option to boot from the install disks that came with your machine. Boot from the CD/DVD disk by holding down the "C" key. (Usually, this is not required. The Mac is smart enough to look on all connected devices to find a viable System Folder.
Anyway, once you have booted from the CD, you MAY be able to use Apple's "Disk Utility" or, if it's there, "Tech Tool" to repair the laptop's drive.
If you are unable to repair the drive, and, if it's not be physically damaged in some way, you should be able to re-install the OS.
This would be a good time to think about getting an external drive, and a copy of CC Cloner by Mike Bombich, and setting up a backup regimen.
ciao