Files not recognised.

[iChimp]

Hey all.
First off i better say i have NO knowledge of Mac so really dont know what im doing but i do have general know-how of computers in general so dont think im just being stupid here ...
A little while ago i got this oldish G3 powerbook just to do a little uni work in when im not at home (even though the battery is knackered so i have 2 plug it in anyway, wont even powerup with the battery in which is ... great)
Anywho it seems a little buggered.
The comp doesnt seem to recognise any file types or anything.
If i try to open things such as a Word document (one made on the Mac and on my PC) it says it cant find the program that made it etc.
The only way i can open it is if i open Word first then open it through that.
This isnt really a problem but the Mac doesnt seem to know what to do with program files either.
For example i downloaded a program for the Mac's setup file but it doesnt recongise that as a file either.
Dunno what to do to sort it.
Could it be because the battery is broken and it for some reason 4gets everything or somethin?
Like i said im less than a novice when it comes to Macs.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer me.

[iMc]

bumping this for a mate

[Jonny M]

All I can suggest is to throw the software restore CD in. Seems totally knackered.

[headbrace]

Hmmmm.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I would say a complete re-install, but before we do that, try zappin the PRAM:

esetting PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Your computer's PRAM and the NVRAM are reset to the default values. The clock settings may be reset to a default date on some models.

Try that, may help.