WideGlide wrote:

Try holding the option, command and shift keys down at the same time and
restart. If that doesn't work, stick your Mac startup CD in the CD drive
and restart while holding the c key down. Stephen T. Boyke
-----------------

Thanks. I did try all those things, and still no luck. I took a look at
the rear side of the computer and it appeared that all cables were fully
inserted. But then, for the heck of it, while the computer was on (with the
flashing question mark still on the screen), I jiggled the keyboard and
trackball cables... still nothing... I then removed and reseated the
keyboard and trackball cables, and suddenly I heard the sound of the hard
drive booting up... looked up at the screen to see the computer booting up
as normal. Well... not sure why that happened, but I sure am glad that it
finally started up. This never happened before. So you mean a poor
keyboard cable connection will cause a computer to be totally disabled?
This is a first for me. Thanks.

Without knowing the model, age or OS of your Mac ... some models get
very finicky about booting up if the PRAM battery is dead. What date and
time is your Mac now showing?

Even if date and time are correct, it may be worthwhile having a spare
PRAM battery in case it happens again. Then, while you're floundering
around inside pushing home HD cables etc (that's the technique that
works for me) you can change the battery at the same time.