Frozen finder window and missing desktop

Hi, a sister of mine gave me their ibook g4 a few months ago and i've encountered a problem. i downloaded a flash file (.flv extension?) and i don't know if macs even support it, but after trying to open that the computer kinda crashed. the finder window won't open or relaunch and nothing from the desktop will appear. the cursor indicates that the computer is busy when over the desktop and finder taskbar. i can open applications on the quick access toolbar on the bottom of the screen, but everything else can't be accessed without the finder window. airport and stuff works, but i have to hold down the power button to turn the computer off, so it's still functional in a crude (and probably damaging) way. since it was a gift, i only have an apple hardware test disk for ibook g4, which the computer says it doesn't support even when i tried to use it before the crash. i don't have the install disks to clear the slate and start over, so i think it's pretty much done for it's lifetime. any help would be nice. thanks.
iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

you could try starting in safe mode - "shift" key is held down on startup.
if it boots up, you can create new user in System Preferences-Accounts.
then try to log in as new user.

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