Check that the disks you have are actually the correct disks. I'm sure they are, but make sure anyway.
10.4 came on a single DVD but if your disks were part of the iBook package, you may have more than one disk. Check also that Disk 1 is inserted.
Try booting from the disk by shutting the machine down and then starting up again with the OPTION key held down.
This "should" give you the choice of startup disks. The system will display an icon for each valid system disk that it finds. In your case, it should find two. This takes a long time to complete.
The flashing question mark and the Sad Mac are both signs that the system did not find a valid startup disk. While in .4.8, check that you have the correct HD set to be the startup disk. System Prefs/Startup.
Question: How long were you holding the "C" key down for? It requires a continuous press until the Apple appears. The Sad Mac would indicate that you are doing that, just checking.
Repairing permissions on the HD should not have any effect but you could try that. Utilities/Disk Utility.
Let us know
P
I have an ibook G4, I currently have Mac OS X 10.4.8 on it. I want to wipe it out and reinstall a fresh Mac OS X on it. I have the original OS X 10.4 discs. I put in disc 1 and run install and bundle, it asked me to restart, but after restart it goes back in OS X 10.4.8, I couldnt start the installation.
I also tried holding down 'c' when restart, it shows up the folder with '?' and a strange face sign. Then it goes back into the OS X again. All hardware is original, no modifications.
Could anyone help me to solve this and make a clean installation?

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