Can you turn the key in the driver side lock? If so, does it just spin and not seem to "connect" with anything? If it spins, the lock "tumbler" mechanism is likely not the problem...
I don't know the details of the lock mechanism on the Boxster, but most other cars I've worked on had some sort of rod that would connect to the lock cylinder via a lever of some sort and then the other end would connect to the parts that would physically lock/open the door. If the Boxster is the same then you may just have had the rod come disconnected and the "tinkling" could have been the clip they usually use to retain it.
Unfortunately, I've not seen the deep interior of the door myself and any photos I've found on-line in a quick search did not show far enough inside. The closest I found was
http://www.bombaydigital.com/boxster/projects/window/ .
If you happen to go poking around in there, two ideas:
1) take and post pictures
2) be aware of this caution posted on the 986faq site, taken from the Porsche tech bulletins:
Potential for Injury [grp5 3/97 5717 9/9/97] 1pg
If repairs to the door locks, door handles, or door window mechanisms are required and the vehicle battery is connected, be sure to remove fuse #1 in row D. The reason for this precaution is because of the comfort feature of the "automatic window lowering" of the Boxster windows. This feature could be activated unintentionally while working on the door locks, door handles, or door window mechanisms, and injury to hand or fingers could occur if caught in the window opening.
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