System Pref. and Apple Menu Problems

I am having several problems. I can' open System Preference from the dock or HD folder. I can't open the Apple Menu. When I click on the Apple Icon, the desktop disappears for a few seconds and then reappears. I then can't drag any files or folders. Also, Appleworks quits as soon as I type a keystroke. I also can't enter a search or label file folders. This all began when I installed new HP printer software. I followed HP support instructions to uninstall the driver, trash the Printer Folder, trash com.apple.print files, repair disk verifications, disconnect the usb cable to the printer, and restart. Nothing helped and HP support now says its a system problem. I'm a new learner, not sure what to do and could use some help. Did I post in the right discussion area? Thanks!

Hi salem, if an "archive and install" didn't fix the problem it suggests that the problem MAY lie in the preference or library files in your own "home" user area.
(deleted - wouldn't work in this situation)
Head to your Home/Library/Preferences folder (NB - this is the Library folder inside your Home folder, not the one at the "root" level of the HD) and, for starters, drag to trash:
com.apple.finder.plist
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
any hp related prefs files that may be hiding here such as
hp inkjet utility prefs
hp inkjet toolbox prefs
hp printer selector prefs
RESTART and see if the problem disappears. If not we may have to find some more demons to exorcise!
Phone modems are a pain for those big downloads, eh! It is a good idea to actually save the package when you install them, just in case of situations like your present one. Software Update should have an option to allow you to do this (Panther and Tiger both do, I can't quite remember wrt Jag, though). Alternatively head to http://www.apple.com/support/downloads and download them directly from there.
Some Apple dealers will burn the relevant downloadable updates to a disc for you if you ask them nicely and pay them a small fee, thereby saving a lot of download time, too.
Cheers
Rod

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