Mac 10.5.8 system preferences not responding when opening print and fax

My HP photosmart printer has stopped responding. The pinwheel comes up and freezes the computer when ever I try and access the printer, or anything to do with the printer. I have also tried going in through system preferences and the I cannot even access it. The pinwheel again pops up. I have not added any software lately. I have tried to update my software both for the Mac and the printer. There are no updates available. I am using Mac 10.5.8
Any ideas / solutions????

First, Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, test if things work OK in Safe Mode.
Then move these files to the Desktop...
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.recentitems.plist
Reboot & test.
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.

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System Preferences not responding when opening desktop

After installing Lion 10.7, I find that whenever I try to change the desktop wallpaper in system preferences, it freezes and I have to force quit it.
I tried to find the systempreferences.plist, as seen from google searches, but I can't find it anywhere, and those seem to be solutions for SL, L or Tiger.
Help appreciated.
Thanks!

I've been having the same issue with system preferences in osx lion freezing and not doing anything for the past week. Your post solved the problem; all I had to do was move the iphoto library and the photo booth library to the desktop, then I moved them back to my pictures folder in the finder window. Now system preferences works like a charm, even if I restart the system the system preferences utilities are all accessible.
This solved the problem; whereas other posts that had me use disk utility to repair the hard drive or repair the disk permissions didn't solve the issue.
This now saves me a call to apple tech support
Thank you.
>>>
Re: System Preferences not responding when opening desktop
Jul 23, 2011 1:27 PM (in response to alexhung)
It has to do with a problem accessing the images on the home>images folder. To solve it, just move its content (iphoto library included) to another place. Then, restart System Preferences. Moving your iPhoto library to another location seems to fix the problem. I am sure Apple will issue an update to correct this problem. But, for now this seems to work for me.

HT1199 Why I couldn't change my screensaver, my system preferences not responding?

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Your
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
file is corrupt in your
(use the Finder > Go > Go To folder and paste & Go)
~/Library/Preferences
Trash the flle you can (may be two of them, one is a lock file) and reboot.
Reset your system preferences again.
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Systems preference not responding

I have tried all the 'solutions' to the problem of my system preferences not responding but none of them have worked. I would like to know if there is another solution not posted anywhere that i could try. Thanks

Try starting in safe mode to run a file ckeck. It may or may not do any good but an easy place to begin.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

PMU Reset and System Preferences not Responding-Always 1969

Hi, I am having a problem that I have not been able to match up on forums (mostly because it's sort of hard for me to pinpoint a short way of typing it up).
I have had a problem before, with my PB not responding (to turning on after turning itself off), so I was familiar this morning when I found myself having to unplug the power adapter, unlatch the battery, holding the Power button for 5 seconds, plugging in the power and locking in the battery and finally Power again to reviving my Powerbook G4.
As usual, after startup, the date has been changed to December 1 1969 so if not changed, the computer may act erratically. My problem this particular time is that I cannot change the date or time! I can't even open System preferences, or use Get Info on my desktop icon of my computer's harddrive. It acts as if it's not responding, holding down my pointer on the System Preferences in the dock gives me the Options such as start on login, hide, Force Quit but when I go to click Force Quit, it does nothing. I cannot use Command-Option-Esc to open the Force Quit window. I click on the Apple pulldown tab at the top left of my screen and Force Quit does not respond there as well. THIS IS SO UNUSUAL TO ME and I am at a total loss at how to get things running smoothly again. I have restarted my powerbook a couple times (but only able to do this by holding down Power for a few seconds, again the Apple pulldown bar then Restart does nothing) but nothing changes the not responding System Preferences.
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laurenlovescomputers,
reset the PMU again.
your welcome,
laurenlovescomputers

Acrobat Pro is now constantly giving me the error message (program not responding) when I try and perform any kind of action.

Acrobat Pro is now constantly giving me the error message (program not responding) when I try and perform any kind of action.

Hi cruzsanta03,
Can you please let us know the following:
- Operating System;
- Complete version of Acrobat installed;
- Experiencing this issue with a particular file or all PDF files;
- Experiencing this issue while performing a particular task or with any task;
- Files are saved on the local machine or on a share drive;
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Photoshop CS6 is not responding when leaving PS and coming back again

A weired problem: My new installation of Photoshop CS6 (OS X Mavericks on a new MBP) is not responding when leaving PS and coming back again.
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I can solve the problem when i try going back several times or when i go back to PS via the icon in the dock.
But it is still very annoying in a quick workflow.
I would appreciate any idea what i can check more, cause i tried everything and i can’t find this issue on the web…
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Problem solved… The troublemaker was the Trackball Works Driver for Kensington trackballs / Expert Mouses…
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Lots of programs does not respond, when opened

Lots of programs does not respond, when they are opened, Apple store, Mail, Photo Booth and VideoConverterPro and some moor.
To close, I have to click on finder first. What to do ?

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Mac Mini - System Preferences Not Responding

Hi
I'm using a Mac Mini with OS X 10.9.3 software. Today, I finally uninstalled Mackeeper using CleanMyMac Uninstaller and the only discernable difference I have is that my screen saver administered through the System Preferences 'desk top and screen saver' option fails to find the iphoto library. System preferences will continue to respond providing I remain with one of the default 'flurry', 'arabesque' etc. options but as soon as I try to select an option allowing me to link to my photo's, i.e., shifting tiles, the system preferences will hang after about 5-10 seconds. I have tried the 'moving the iphoto library/photobooth/pictures folders from their curent position to desk top and back again' recommendation I have read in other threads, rebooting, disk utility checks, all to no avail.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Many thanks.

You used one worthless scam "utility" to remove another.
Remove "CleanMyMac" by following the first set of instructions on this page. If you have a different version of the product, the procedure may be different. Do not drag the CleanMyMac application to the Trash.
Back up all data before making any changes.
Remove "MacKeeper" as follows.
"MacKeeper" is a scam with only one useful feature: it deletes itself.
Note: These instructions apply to the version of the product that I downloaded and tested in early 2012. I can't be sure that they apply to other versions.
If you have incompletely removed MacKeeper, then you'll have to reinstall it and start over.
IMPORTANT: "MacKeeper" has what the developer calls an “encryption” feature. In my tests, I didn't try to verify what this feature really does. If you used it to “encrypt” any of your files, “decrypt” them before you uninstall, or (preferably) restore the files from backups made before they were “encrypted.” As the developer is not trustworthy, you should assume that the "decrypted" files are corrupt unless proven otherwise.
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Applications
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☞ Quit MacKeeper before dragging it to the Trash.
☞ Don't empty the Trash. Let MacKeeper delete itself.
☞ Don't try to drag the MacKeeper Dock icon to the Trash.

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System preferences on my MacBook Air, running Mac OSX10.7.5, will not open properly. It opens on Desktop & Screensaver / Desktop and gets stuck trying to load the images in this area. The only images are the ones that come with the system. This has been like this ever since I chnaged the desktop image to Pink Forest. So i have no acces to any options under the system preferences, can't load printers, nothing.
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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Try deleting the Desktop settings file. Open Finder, select Go menu (on the menu bar) > Go to Folder, and type ~/Library/Preferences. Then, delete "com.apple.desktop.plist" and "com.apple.systempreferences.plist", and restart. Finally, you will be able to change your background in Desktop & Screensaver

My system preferences not responding?

I need some help with system preferences is not responding?

It happened to me too yesterday. When I booted, no network (lan or wan) was available.
tiny wifi, Bluetooth and TimeMachine icons on upper screen were gone. No response from Apple menu or Dock either when activating System preferences.
I was wondering how to reinstall system when the Lion mac came without disc?
After rebooting, the whole thing came back... Not panicked but a bit anxious for 24 hours.
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HT2490 system preferences not responding

Ive recently chagnged my desktop picture on my new mac book pro 13" to a own taken photo and not system preferences when opened does not repond. Can you help?

Try rebooting the machine.
If the problem persists, open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal.app) and paste this command:
mv ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist ~/Desktop/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
(it's all one line).
Press 'return'.
Restart the computer.

System Preferences (Not Responding)

This simple maintance is turning out to be a nightmare! I was attempting to modify an account in users & groups in system preferences. I clicked on the lock to make changes and what else, the spinning beachball. System preferences would not respond and ram (real memory) shrunk in a hurry. I started with about 6G free and at last look, I am down to 1.7G. It is the SystemUIServer (1.86G) and the loginwindow(1.84G) along with system preferences(272M) that are grabbing up the ram. I took a look in the console log and found the following error:
11-08-30 8:40:24.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:40:34.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:40:44.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:40:51.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:42:08.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:42:20.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:42:21.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:42:31.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:42:42.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
11-08-30 8:44:38.930 PM System Preferences: kCGErrorIllegalArgument: CGSDeviceCreate: Invalid window
11-08-30 8:44:38.930 PM System Preferences: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
11-08-30 8:44:38.930 PM System Preferences: Failed to create window context device
11-08-30 8:44:38.930 PM System Preferences: CGWindowContextCreate: failed to create window context delegate.
11-08-30 8:44:38.930 PM [0x0-0xaf0af].com.apple.systempreferences: Aug 30 20:44:38 MACMAD.local System Preferences[1232] <Error>: Failed to create window context device
11-08-30 8:44:38.930 PM [0x0-0xaf0af].com.apple.systempreferences: Aug 30 20:44:38 MACMAD.local System Preferences[1232] <Error>: CGWindowContextCreate: failed to create window context delegate.
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Same thing here. I recently had to delete a user, and doing so somehow inadvertently removed the main account... so I had to login as root and restore the user.
Since doing that, when I open System Prefs and try to make changes to the user account, the system freezes and System Preferences won't respond. Also, the fans fire up as though I were doing something extremely intensive like rendering video.
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System preference not responding

HI, m system prefernce is hanged at changing wallpapers n screensavers dialog box n its not workin even after booting , Wat to do

Hello paulo:
Try trashing a preference file (com.apple.systempreferences.plist) and restarting (if you are saying system preferences are causing problems).
You might also reset the PRAM and SMC"
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411
Barry

ITunes and System Preferences not responding since upgrade

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Mac 10.5.8 system preferences not responding when opening print and fax

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