Can't play HD .mov files (in Quicktime, iMovie, or FCP)

Hello,
My Powerbook (bought in 2004) is senile and having various problems (see below for more details), so perhaps this issue can't be fixed without fixing the other stuff (or getting a new computer)... but just curious.
I'm helping a friend with a video project, and he brought over his small Lacie external HD with his footage on it-- recorded with an HD video camera, then imported into iMovie HD, now simply a bunch of .mov files in a folder.
When I try to open of the files with Quicktime Pro, it gives me a white screen and plays the sound, and tells me the "component is missing", and that i can try to find it on the Qcktime site, but I couldn't figure out which Codec to try (and you have to pay for them all?). I also tried updating my Quicktime to 7.4, and the exact same thing happens.
When I try to open them with iMovie 4.0.1, it says "Can't open [this file]; skipping and continuing".
When I try to open them with FCP 4.5 HD, it says "Codec Not Found, you may be using a compression type without the corresponding hardware card"
Any ideas? Should I try erase-and-install with my whole system, after a backup onto my own external HD? I can't reinstall FCP because my disks are in America (I'm in Hong Kong), but even if it doesn't work with that, is there a way to make it work in iMovie?
Thanks very much--
Samantha
PS- Background on my computer troubles of late-- in December I was having some problems with various things, which led me to try and repair the hard-disk, which didn't work. Some of my questions/conversation are on this thread.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1256737&tstart=0
Then for Christmas I bought DiskWarrior, ran it, but it couldn't repair the disk/replace the system because of some "error". Which makes me think I have some serious Hard-disk problem-- although the hardware seems fine according to SMART. So right now i'm just trying to get through a few of these big projects before trying erase-and-install with my whole system, and if that doesn't work, then probably investing in a new computer. Time to upgrade perhaps.
Was having some weird problems before, so ended up getting DiskWarrior,

Hi-
Referring to this post:
"The AIC codec is installed by iMovie HD and is just what its name implies. Intermediate (temporary conversion from one file format to another).
Your G4 will not be able to play the file past a few frames per second because of the large dimensions and high data rate even if you did find the codec. You'll find editing it using QuickTime or iMovie a frustrating experience because of those facts."
I'm a little confused-- do you mean that the G4 computer is just not strong enough to edit HD files "even if I did find the codec"? I was planning to edit it with Final Cut Pro (have never edited a HD project before), but is my computer not adequate? Let me know if there is any way for me to tackle an HD project with my current laptop-- otherwise I guess I really need to look into a new one.
-shc

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