Can't get system preferences to open.

I have a ibook g4 Version 10.4.11. I'm trying to open up the System Preferences and i'm clicking on the apple menu in the top left conner and nothing happens. I've been sitting here for about 2 hours now and it's as if system preferences doesn't exist on my computer. I've looked in the Utilities,Applications,finder,spotlight and it's not on my dock. Need help??? Oh and just about all my apps besides safari,finder and dashbord have question marks on them.

Look in your applications folder, it should be there.
If not, run disk utility and verify/repair permissions, and then see what happens.

r

What do you mean run disk utility?

Open Applications then Utilities and open Disk Utility. Click on the main drive and on the bottom you will see repair permissions. If that does not fix it let us know. Let us know if it does also.

r

That's not in there, this computer is missing so much stuff on it.

MacintoshHD>Apllications> Utilities> Disc Utility? If it's not there, then you need to do a completely fresh archive and install of your OS.

w

Yeah it's not in there how do i download even thing back on, i don't have the disk that came with this computer.

Then you are kind of stuck.
You are going to need to get a generic install disc of Tiger if you want to stick to that Os, or earlier ones if you don't. Tiger is as high as you can effectively run (Leopard at a push, depending on processor/ram.
Tiger still sells for $100 or so though.