Can't create new action/menu greyed out

I'm just learning PS, and I'm using Classroom in a Book. I'm trying to experiment with creating new actions, but most of my menu is greyed out. I think I'm following directions in the lesson and in PS Help, and I've tried deleting preferences. (My HD was recently formatted so I have fresh installations.)

I'm using PS 9.0.1 and OS 10.4.7 on an iMac G5 with plenty of memory. On the Action palette, everything from New Action through Playback Options is greyed out. (Also true for Save Actions.)

Would appreciate some ideas or being aimed at a reference I've missed.

Turn Button Mode off.

Thanks, Carl. Could have sworn I had already tried that, but obviously I hadn't. I appreciate your taking time to answer -- in your place, I think I would probably have been forced to snicker at the question, though. ;-}