Dock gone, desktop inaccessible

My Dock is gone, I can change preferences but it has no effect. Everything I had on the desktop is still there but clicking it has no effect. I can access files on the desktop by using the "Go" menu. The desktop is a solid blue even though it is set to dark gray. If I log out it and come back in it is canned background that you get when you first buy a Mac. Shutting down sets the background back to blue. I have been on 10.4.10 for several weeks with no other problems.
Rest the PRAM to no avail.

Hello Ethan:
Welcome to Apple discussions.
Try a couple of things:
Trash preference files:
com.apple.finder.plist
com.apple.dock.plist
restart
Run repair disk from your software install DVD.
Barry

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