Apple PowerBook G3 Startup Question

[ThinkPad560X]

I decided to post on here since Apple didn't want to help me with a basic question.
I own a Apple PowerBook G3 M5343.
I ordered a 256MB RAM for it so it should be here soon. during powerup It makes the classic Apple sound and shows a white screen with a MacFace folder that switches between the MacFace to "?" what does the icon mean? no operating system or RAM?

I also have the software CD "Mac OS 8 + Mac OS 8 CD Tour" will the software CD auto run like Windows 2000-XP and above or is it like Windows 95-98 floppy boot?
As you can see I know nothing about Apple software of hardware, But Like Windows XP with ThinkPad

[Temetka]

The flashing ? means that the system cannot find a valid system folder to boot from.

Is there anything on the HD you care about? If not pop in a System 8 CD and hold down the "C" key during right after power on. The system should boot from the CD. From there there it will boot to MacOS Desktop screen. You can find the installer on the CD by browsing around. I am not sure if MacOS 8 is new enough to install on a PBG3. I would recommend you get a copy of MacOS 9 or higher. OS X up to MacOS X.4 will run on that machine.

[ThinkPad560X]

No the HDD in it "4GB" didn't load up anything, not even reading on my Windows 7 desktop, I don't think the HDD is reading right. But thats good then if the CD will auto read like Win2000 and above, I hated Win95-98 having to insert a Win95-98 boot disk and have to type setup on the disk location. Apple saved me from having to buy a floppy drive.

[j-dawg]

IIRC if it's not reading the disk (and it recognizes that fact) it will show a disk with a question mark, rather than a folder with a question mark.