IBook G4 problems archive and install or erase and install?

I have been having problems with my iBook G4 (it will be five years old this thanksgiving and it got a new hard drive just before the 3 year applecare ran out). I tried updating safari in may and I think that somehow screwed up my system. I can no longer use safari or open any adobe pdf files. also, when I try to run software update, it will bounce a couple of times in my dock and then disappear.
I can still use word and firefox (although firefox has been quitting with more and more frequency recently, about 4 or 5 times a night). I ran the disc utility and the hardware test and neither of those identified any problems.
I didn't do anything major earlier like an archive and install or reinstall because I couldn't find my copy of word in order to reinstall that, but I found it over the weekend and I am ready to try to fix my computer.
So here is my question--should I do an archive and install or erase and reinstall? also, I have three apple install discs and five of the software restore, is that right? I don't want to get halfway through the process and realize I am missing something.
the iBook is almost five years old, if I start all over, am I going to run into the same problem--that some of the updates won't work on my system and might cause problems?
Thanks!

Welcome to the Forum.
Before that you might want to try running a repair disk routine on the HD, and clear the cache files too. Download ONYX, a free cache cleaner from here: http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs2/english/download.html and clean the system and user files. Once this is done go to the next step.
Booting up while holding down CMD-S. Once the screen of code has loaded and the cursor stopped moving, type in *fsck -fy* (note the space after the 'k') and hit return. Repeat until it says the HD is OK. Type reboot, hit return.
Post back.

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Gee!!! it is nice to be off of the Quicktime topics and moving towards a solution !,
After a disastrous attempt to down grade from Quicktime 7.4, it has become necessary for me to reinstall my system from my original D.V.D, which I have done before but it has been over 2 years. I am wondering how best to reinstall the numerous updates already on the system, which is Tiger 10.4.11 on a G4 power book.
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Hi,
I'm in the same boat. I have an older 13" black MacBook and bought a new 13" MacBook Pro. Your outline isnt' what I experience, yet it's similar to the Apple Article at
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1820
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< Edited by Host >
Richard

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IBook G4 problems archive and install or erase and install?

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