The "@" usually means a symbolic link, but that is shown at the end of the line, after the filename, and not in the middle of the line like what you have.

Can you post more details like:
[1] Do you have sudo permissions to root?
[2] Have you tried using the "Verify/Repair Permissions" in Disk Utiity?
[3] Full path names to these directories/partitions...something like /Volumes/<HD-name> & "ls -ld" o/p for the same.

To troubleshoot most such issues, you do not need to boot from a Boot CD. Finder is smart enough to help you take of this, since that is where you broke stuff from. Note that the exception to this is when you hose your boot disk.

Also, to troubleshoot a 10.4.11 issue, use a Tiger Boot CD instead of a Leopard CD.

I don't have a PB but am checking my options on my MBP. As such Tiger should be Tiger on both, so there shouldn't be any difference. But keep this in mind.

You could also get more help at other Mac sites like macosxhints, macfixit etc.