Unable to open System Preferences

Were you able to try and use Safe mode startup, to see if that helped?

This may or may not try to repair the files if damaged, once restarted

into Safe mode; & this could take more than 15-20 minutes to restart.

• How to use Safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

What kind of startup actions did the PowerBook exhibit, before the

symptom you now mention, appeared?

Try a reset of PRAM:

Cmd + Opt + P + R to Zap PRAM.

Hold all '4 keys' down, on startup, until second chime.

Too bad you've no Clone of Mac system on FW external powered drive

that allows startup from the clone. Few different enclosures may be used.

If you Admin to PowerBook, did you try making 2nd admin user account,

to test and see if main parts are still missing on restart?

If you knew how, another access may be to use Console or Terminal (for

command-line (single user) as another route to access Mac underpinnings.

Those with older Mac OS X under-hood knowledge, various tools worked.

[..There is an Apple command-line Admin instruction document that

offers/tells of how to change settings. Not for novice. It shows depth..]

Depending on your depth of experience in various Mac OS X versions

and available hardware choices ~ you could restore from a Clone in a

second Mac; or use Time Machine in external drive, & make backup.

I've several ideas, but some may not do well without adequate KSAs.

(knowledge, skills, abilities). Make second admin user to see if missing

parts appear on new user account?

At 1:40AM, I'm tired, & going offline.

Some ideas here allow reset without discs; such as Create New User, etc.

http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/03/how-to-reset-your-mac-os-x-password-without-an-installer-disc/

[The new user account may start Mac with all parts visible; you may not

wish to try that, right off. Above article suggests a few things.]

A Time Machine backup, on external USB drive, may help restore your

old Mac with tired OS X; or at least give you a reinstall option later.

Original DVDs are difficult to come by; would cost more than retail.

Good luck & happy computing!

🌞🌿⛵️🌤🎣🤖🏕🐝⛄️🌻

Given PowerBook G4 is rather old in 'computer years', the hard drive could be worn enough

to consider replacement. Those rotational drives can be difficult to find now. To find good &

new manufacture, can be hard. Uses Older type; PATA. Parallel-ATA/IDE, not newer Serial-ATA.

(These have tedious details that one needs to be aware of when replacement time comes.)

You could upgrade to Leopard, but overall performance will be less than ideal. To restore

original functionality given the hardware limits, would be best. I was able to fully restore

my last model iBook G4 12-inch system to Tiger since it shipped with Grey-label complete

systems install-restore kit. (I had to look around to get other missing titles for Leopard OS

in order to replace functions in software, that did not come with Leopard system disc.)

The slower rotation 4200-RPM PATA 2.5-inch drives were used through the early PPC & Intel

based Mac portables. Desktop models use the 3.5-inch, with exception of compact Mac mini.

If you have the newer Leopard 10.5.x installer DVD media, that's good option to have as such.

Likely the Tiger 10.4.x DVD (older ones used CDs) would be better to have initially, & that was

available and was not 'machine-specific' for those years. Grey-label restore discs were original.

Upgrades generally are OK if there is an advantage; since the hardware limitations exist, that

may only act to slow the older Mac (with 4200-RPM HDD) and the performance as such, may

be thoroughly taxed with the drive spinning all the time, as Virtual Memory means plenty of

read-writes to a HDD of system RAM files; instead of through Chip memory. Faster RPM HDD

or SSD can improve the overall experience and may be essential to upgrade the storage drive.

Also you may need to get a replacement optical drive (as a portal to upgrade via disc media.)

There are some some original upgrade kits to reinstall the software that a Mac included when

new, on original media that shipped with Macs. The retail install media usually has the basic

system, while missing are those programs that would be on a second or third DVD or CD kit.

Plan on a reasonable method to clean dusty bits from an optical drive; external models can be

tray-loading; but may not boot the system disc (as needed in various install/restore instances.)

When those drives fail, cleaning may help; to take-apart to access dust-laden places is usual.

Anyway, the earlier reply fairly much covered ideas of trying to restore original system due to

hardware limits; most of those were built-in since that was new at one time, & just worked.

And the new computer shipped with a more complete kit that does much more. Later upgrade

is a basic, less titles of software and as such, nowadays more difficult to get in piecemeal.

The list of included software when new ~ was a showcase of what it could do, out of the box.

Good luck & happy computing!

🌞🌿⛵️🌤🎣🤖🏕🐝⛄️🌻

There are a few newer articles whose content may not apply as much to vintage obsolete

early Mac OS X systems, while steps they suggest may (or not) be helpful; or are unknown.

• If your Mac starts up to an Apple logo or progress bar - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207019

• If your Mac starts up to a blank screen - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210905

Other screens appear with partial startups; defer to symptoms & help resolve issues.

• If your Mac doesn't start up all the way - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204156

• How to Fix a Mac That Stalls on the Gray Screen at Startup | lifewire

https://www.lifewire.com/fix-mac-that-stall-on-gray-screen-at-startup-2260831

These general devolve to use of an appropriate System installer DVD/CD media

& use their own version Disk Utility; from the specific systems you seek to Repair.

The startup 'system drive' has to be unmounted and hardware runs from DVD

or other external startup (clone) suited for for repair or reinstall tasks required.

This occurs by use of correct optical media used to start the Mac; or different

Mac system that runs from external FireWire (oxford-type chipset) & boot Mac.

As suggested, if the vintage obsolete mac portable is to be used, it should have

hardware & software stabilized; w/ correct systems per better expectation per era.

Revised later articles that suggest means to cure causes of symptoms may be

less effective than previous ones from a different era; as tech has changed, too.

Good luck & happy trails!

🌞🌿⛵️🌤🎣🏕⛄️🌻

Probably you had been looking online for either as-shipped OEM system disc

(grey label) or last supported 'retail' label install-restore DVD media; could be

a costly venture.

You may be able to take the hard drive out of Mac and use bare wire adapter

(see OWC site) to try and access/copy data files off the old Mac. None of the

port types for the new USB adapter convert FireWire. An 'oxford-type' FW

enclosure would be boot-capable to another Mac; a useful tool for backup.

Sorry to not have time to search duckduckgo for options online; I'm needing

to head out and across some miles to check a PO Box.. Seems a mystery mail

item awaits, and long lines yesterday foiled my attempt to retrieve the item.

Good luck & happy trails!

🌞🌿⛵️🌤🎣🏕⛄️🌻

{..This thread was almost ready to post, when I saw your addition. That indicates further

probable hardware failures, which might be a logic board or other hardware problem.

If not just hard drive failure, where the system cannot be read from a drive gone bad..}

..Earlier content, follows:

The Leopard 10.5(.8) may be adequate, since PowerBook may be able to add more RAM

and if the hard drive isn't jamb-packed full, 'Virtual Memory' could exist to help this work.

Faster RPM HDD can help. It'll be slow going due to modern internet on vintage spec HW.

The model you have is about mid-pack from 2004 with details in MacTracker database app.

One of the 'lower-spec' 17-inch model early PowerBook G4s. ~ Uncertain how that'd do.

• PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz)

Introduced September 2003

Discontinued April 2004

Model Identifier PowerBook5,3

Model Number A1052

EMC 1983

Order Number M9110LL/A

Maximum Memory 2.0 GB (mactracker shows 2GB)

Memory Slots 2 - PC-2700 DDR333 200-pin SO-DIMM

[replace in matched-pairs of best quality for stable results]

Replacement RAM can be bought, better quality for specific build models of Mac are

available; not to exceed original part number from build yearfrom OWC &/or Crucial

sites; reference examples of 'Upgrades guaranteed to Work' w/ your Mac, from site:

All available replacement + upgrade parts that OWC offers. (No logic circuits, LCDs etc.)

https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/apple-powerbook-g4-17-inch-1-33ghz-september-2003

To have a DVD that can be used in an old vintage obsolete Mac, is better than none.

An exact Tiger could be out there somewhere; should be 'Retail' disc, not grey-label.

Shipped with:

Original OS Mac OS X 10.2.7 Jaguar (6R55) - prior to Panther 10.3.x (also prior to Tiger 10.4.x)

Maximum OS Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard

Hardware Tests AHT (PowerBook) 2.0.4, 2.0.5, 2.0.6, 2.5 (per build yr series)

[Tiger did very well + shipped in 2005 iBook G4 12-inch with 1.5GB RAM & 1.33GHz CPU]

Found my last iBook balked at Leopard 10.5.x ~ did better when restored to original 10.4.x.

PS: unless your PowerBook G4 has meticulous case and prime display conditions, it may

only be relegated to be project material. (A better model may be later MacBook Late

2008 with 13-inch display, Aluminum-bodied prior to MacBook/Pro.) Still rather limited.

In preference, I've mid-2012 13-inch 'non-retina' MacBook Pro, mine is lower i5 2.5GHz

dual-core, with many user upgrades; parts also available at OWC. The i7 was better.

This has only 240GB SSD (blade) and 16GB RAM, runs Mojave 10.14.6, got it in trade.

Good luck & happy trails!

🌞🌿⛵️🌤🎣🏕🐝🌻

That retail Leopard DVD 10.5.1 looks adequate; deal there may be OK.

However Tiger 10.4(.11) requires less system resources and runs better.

And is harder to come by; usually in grey-label discs for specific Macs.

For PPC with small CPU and limited RAM capacity (plus small HDD w/o

plenty of free space, with OS & apps installed) ~ gains may be seen with

faster RPM rotational HDD. -Or try to retro-fit SSD inside.- Format and

install can be difficult while gains, when it works, are worth the speed.)

Rotational HDDs are probably much more reliable, and faster 7200-RPM

models can help; I've a first edition MacBook1.1 (Early 2006 intel) that has

a 7200-RPM 160GB hard drive, and two GB RAM added. It runs quickly.

This can use TenFourFox, because early version Rosetta was on Tiger/Leo

installer as an option; so some applications can run within Intel-mac; yet

those are all termed 'unsupported' while I found once set up, did good.

[When TenFourFox could access Apple discussions (before latest login

page changes to ASC) ~ my older Macs used to post,edit, & run ASC.

The volunteers who keep TenFourFox alive, have been troubleshooting

issues; those seemed to implicate login & crash, with the ASC webpage.]

TenFourFox is a primary portal to use for internet access, in G3/G4/G5.

Web-based email does OK; a bit slow in PPC small CPU minimalist spec

systems. I've two 10.5.8 builds, one PPC Mac mini; other Intel-based Mac.

A coreduo Intel-based Mac does about even with TenFourFox_G3 (+Rosetta)

as a G5 iMac or Tower, a PPC-based Mac, + TenFourFox. [Can't say the same

if the comparison pits G4 Mac mini 10.5.8 against MacBook1.1. And the G4

version TenFourFox will not run within Intel-based Mac; only G3 build.]

Downloads for updates to Leopard 10.5.1 are available for PowerBook/iBook G4

of 867 GHz or faster CPU; otherwise system cannot run in lower spec older Mac.

There's also an iTunes update/upgrade above ones on the installer disc. I've those.

Should (maybe) still available as download from Apple Support archives.

"Internet Radio" still has channels of free music; no subscription. Be wary of high

speed iTunes radio, which run out of bandwidth-support; those can stutter, & stall.

Like most small CPU macs, they appreciate Ethernet internet vs. slower wi-fi ISP.

🌞🌿⛵️🌤🎣🤖🏕🐝⛄️🚀🌻📫

PS: there were later upgrade kits for Macs to transition from Tiger to Leopard.

For Power PC hardware; an 'old version' was likely not for Intel based Mac up-

grades. ~ This link shows an example at amazon sites of such a kit. For those

Macs whose hardware could upgrade to Leopard without underperforming, slow;

compared to Tiger. (Unavailable from most old sites; & generally rare, too.)

An outline of what this offered, from original retail intro (@ amazon.com):

Apple Mac OS X version 10.5.6 Leopard (Old Version)

"It's the next best thing to getting a new Mac."

The new Mac Box Set

The latest versions of the Apple software for your Mac--all in one box:

• Mac OS X v10.5.6 Leopard, the latest version of the world's most powerful operating system
• iLife '09, featuring the new iPhoto '09, iMovie '09, GarageBand '09, iWeb '09, and iDVD
• iWork '09, Apple's productivity suite for home and office including Pages '09, Numbers '09, and Keynote '09

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AMLPYM/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_7?tag=ds0233-20&ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A14QMJJMQY7D3V

These upgrades were slow on older portable Macs which began with shipped Jaguar 10.2.7, on grey disc media.

Had been researching a bit, for sites that formerly had these upgrades, since parts missing from basic upgrade

were only either in the original as-shipped systems, or on a backup media; sometimes those could transition.

Good luck in any event!

🌞🌿🎣⛵️🐌🌻🐢🐶🚀🌎

Perhaps the idea would be consider this a hobby, something that won't ever be

as quick as it once was; nor as reliable as a new one. Anything you could do with

it may well be rather temporary; as it is essentially an old computer.

That it is a early 17-inch PPC G4 PowerBook, that started with bare Jaguar 10.2.x

and transitioned through to fairly good Tiger 10.4.11; (if it could have that era of

Tiger w/ more Apple software) as-new Kit; like Leopard shown; but Tiger instead.

Hard disk drives can make various noise, and optical drives also whirr and click.

There are several sources of files online that may be considered pirated copies.

Some compressed files are just add-ons to some main system you need, that

are unavailable anywhere else; as their sources have evaporated. Be wary, tho.

These hobby computers seldom going to function well online; and outside of

a few chores (with vintage software, and limited internet connectivity) at least

the unit may look good and run adequately. For the most part stay with wired;

for both Power & Internet. It may be difficult to find reliable quality batteries.

Certain models of PowerBook use small secondary clock or cmos batteries;

when they no longer hold a charge, & no longer available. Disconnect them.

Various online resources such as they are, everymac among others; some fixit

sites have bits of info otherwise harder to obtain for obsolete vintage Macs.

I'd look for Tiger as the better system; however with price & limited availability

to have a Leopard retail restaller on hand may be wise. I've several older OS.

And some clones, on FireWire external hard drive; good kind that runs Mac.

Anyway, been near Zero °F. here for awhile. Historically warmer than average.

Because the original hard drive connectors were for ATA/IDE (PATA) avoid those

which are not suited to this version of hard drive; the SSD may have an Adapter.

You may also find others online who have adapted a 'Flash Memory' card

& re-purposed it, to work in older Macs; where SATA cannot work directly.

Some times there's no room for adapters; however various flash memory may be

smaller than the original hard drive; some small enough to need filler to keep a

much smaller part from simply rattling around loose inside.

Older Macs could not use SATA, while some versions may be adapted; I've

no experience with those. A better choice had been discontinued; the OWC

brand had offered PATA SSD kits for PPC Macs, both portable and desktop.

And mounting brackets to fill the difference in size. An adapter to make use

of the SATA drive type where PATA/IDE was, may be available; & correct, too.

Well, I'm expecting a call from the East; so that may be anytime

and curious what they have to say; it involves replacement parts

for Mac and shipping company issues! ..Other issues, other days..

{..I'd study awhile before buying some parts that might not work..}

Happy trails!

🦁🐯🐻|😳😊