System preference -- desktop and screen saver problem

whenever i go into system preference and into the desktop and screen saver menu... the computer always freezes? with a spinning colored wheel ? can anyone tell me why... or should i bring it to the apple store to have the tech check it out?
Thanks

Could be that the prefs file has been hosed and it's getting stuck trying to write to it. Maybe delete the prefs file in /Users/username/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Re-start and see what happens. Likewise run permissions repair in case that is the problem.
The spin event may also show up in your logs, so open 'console' in utilities and check for further info on why the Mac froze.

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