System preferences froze, stopped working

I was changing my wallpaper picture and the System Preferences just stopped working, I can't do anything in it now! How can I solve this problem?

Quit System Preferences if it's running. In the Finder, hold down the option key and select Go ▹ Library from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
and move the following item to the Desktop:
Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the item on the Desktop back where it came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the item.

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Searching in System Preferences has stopped working

A few days ago I noticed that I couldn't search within System Preferences. I can type in the search box, but no autocomplete results are shown and no icons are highlighted. Searching is basically useless:
It was working before, so it must be something that I did. There has been another thread about the problem before, with no solution. Nothing else comes up in Google either. Does anyone have any ideas as to what might have caused this?

I wouldn’t say the problem is in Mavericks, the other thread I found on it is from 2009. I’m surprised how rare this issue is – seems like something that should have an easy fix.

Laserjet CP1025nw HP system tray has stopped working

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Hi Have you tried installing the basic driver, and the basic driver update to see if you have the same issue? Let me know if you have the same issue using the basic driver. Can you also provide me a screenshot of the error message you are receiving? Firmware update: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=lj-86491-4&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&os=228&product=4052972&sw_lang= Basic driver:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=lj-90357-1&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&os=4063&product=4052972&sw_lang= Basic driver update:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=lj-98162-1&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&os=4063&product=4052972&sw_lang=

Mac Sleep Timer (through 'Energy Saver' in System Preferences) won't work

Hello,
I have a MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009) running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3,
and it has been installed with the latest software updates possible.
(The latest update is the 'Security Update 2010-003')
Previously I was using Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 on my MacBook,
and I can vaguely remember the timed computer sleep through Energy Saver would work.
That is, when the counter's time matches the amount of time I specified (e.g. 10 minutes), the computer enters sleep mode and displays a pulsing power light.
After upgrading to Snow Leopard I can barely remember the scheduled computer sleep will work as I don't really notice how it sleeps / I will shut down my MacBook before I go to bed.
==========
However, last night I was really tired and slept in front of my MacBook unconsciously.
When I woke up, I found that my MacBook didn't display a pulsing power light but a continuously-growing power light.
I tapped the trackpad and the display turned on, so I knew that my MacBook didn't go to sleep a whole night.
*What that means is that the Sleep Timer (through 'Energy Saver' in System Preferences) won't work.*
But the timed display sleep DOES work.
==========
After spending a whole day Googling,
I found that there are plenty of people suffering the same problem as me, although their Macs and OSs vary.
I also found an official support page from Apple concerning the related issue:
Mac OS X: Why your Mac might not sleep or stay in sleep mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1776
I tried the following methods but still can't resolve the problem:
_- boot my MacBook in safe mode_
_- use the 'Disk Utility' to repair Disk Permissions through booting my MacBook from the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Installation DVD_
_- reset NVRAM (Intel-based) (as PRAM is used by PowerPC-based Macs)_
_- reset SMC (System Management Controller)_
NONE of the above-mentioned methods can resolve the problem.
Althought I am sure that the Spotlight isn't indexing the hard drive, and I just start my computer and do nothing and wait for the scheduled computer sleep, the scheduled computer sleep just won't work.
In the other Mac forum, I saw someone suggest installing an application called PleaseSleep:
http://www.dragonone.com/products/macosx/pleasesleep/
It works.
But I really want to find out what caused this problem as this is a function shipped with Mac which is expected to work normally.
What's more, Apple is claiming to be a green Apple, right?
==========
Here's the log taken from 'Console':
- Sleep by closing the lid of my MacBook:
Apr 18 13:21:05 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:21:05 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:21:07 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:23:21 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:23:21.028 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:23:19.410 PM = Deltatime:1.618421972
Apr 18 13:23:21 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:23:21.579 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:23:19.410 PM = Deltatime:2.169138968
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Clamshell Sleep
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - EC LID0
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:23:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system
- Sleep by manually clicking the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the screen -> 'Sleep':
Apr 18 13:31:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:31:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:31:49 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:32:04 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:32:04.033 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:32:02.720 PM = Deltatime:1.313067079
Apr 18 13:32:04 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:32:04.589 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:32:02.720 PM = Deltatime:1.869303048
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Software Sleep
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - OHC1
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:32:06 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system
- Sleep by manually pressing control + eject, and the press 'Sleep':
Apr 18 13:34:17 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:34:17 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:34:46.080 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:34:44.720 PM = Deltatime:1.360466003
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:34:46.564 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:34:44.720 PM = Deltatime:1.844347000
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection AirPort configd plug-in com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 566 ms
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: bootpsessiontransmit: bpf_write(en0) failed: Network is down (50)
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: DHCP en0: INIT transmit failed
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection IPConfiguration com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 567 ms
Apr 18 13:34:46 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Software Sleep
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - OHC1
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:34:48 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system
- Sleep by _turning on the application called 'PleaseSleep' based on the settings from 'Energy Saver'_:
Apr 18 13:37:22 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Application is enabled
Apr 18 13:37:29 Michael-Leungs-MacBook System Preferences[1136]: * AGCAttach() failed
Apr 18 13:37:31 Michael-Leungs-MacBook [0x0-0x58058].com.apple.systempreferences[1136]: Couldn't find any matches.
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Checking sleep conditions...
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Going to sleep...
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback WILL sleep
Apr 18 13:38:23 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Sleep notification received from the system
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: loginwindow SleepWakeCallback will power on, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:38:56.042 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:38:54.720 PM = Deltatime:1.321902931
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook loginwindow[25]: handleUnlockResult, Currenttime:4/18/2010 1:38:56.571 PM - Waketime:4/18/2010 1:38:54.720 PM = Deltatime:1.850627959
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection AirPort configd plug-in com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 707 ms
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: bootpsessiontransmit: bpf_write(en0) failed: Network is down (50)
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: DHCP en0: INIT transmit failed
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: PMConnection IPConfiguration com.apple.powermanagement.applicationresponse.slowresponse 708 ms
Apr 18 13:38:56 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: network configuration changed.
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Sleep: Success - AC 98 - Software Sleep
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Wake: Success - AC 98 - OHC1
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook configd[37]: Hibernate Statistics
Apr 18 13:38:58 Michael-Leungs-MacBook PleaseSleep[288]: Wake notification received from the system
- If I disable 'PleaseSleep' and only depend on the non-working 'Energy Saver', nothing happens.
==========
Looking forward to your replies! Thanks in advance!

Found this discussion by googling "com.apple.systempreferencescouldn't find any matches"...
One month ago I bought a brand new Macbook Pro 13", and after a couple of weeks I realized it wasn't sleeping on its own when it should, per the system preferences. (I did sleep when I chose "Sleep" in the menus or closed it... It just wouldn't sleep on its own, while open.) What was extra frustrating was that it was intermittent... It would sleep on its own maybe 1/3 of the time, but other times it would NEVER go to sleep. I deleted PowerManagement.plist, reset the SMC, etc... No luck.
I took it to the "geniuses" at the Apple Store, and the guy took all of five minutes trying to diagnose the problem. When my MBP wouldn't sleep on its own, he promptly replaced it with a new one. That was nice, but I actually would have preferred that he diagnosed and fixed it. (I think the store was so swamped with people coming in for service that day that they were doing anything they could to close cases and get customers out of there ASAP.)
Now, sitting here with my 48-hour-old MBP, I still have the problem. The other one was so new that I had barely put anything on it yet. The only applications I had put on it were MS Office for Mac 2011, Firefox, Chrome, and Adobe Flash Player. I've put Office and Flash Player on this one, but not yet Firefox or Chrome. That's it. No other customization or fancy business.
I looked into the Console just now, and I see the "Couldn'tfind any matches" entry popping up again and again. The last three seemed to pop upright around the time when my MBP should have gone to sleep on its own, but not down to the second, so it's hard to definitively point at that and say it's it for sure.
They need to fix this!!

Systems preferences does not work

My Systems Preferences does not work, either reminders and messages... since Mavericks(10.9) Programs do not respond and Macbook air is not responding.... Help.....

Well, you are certainly correct that the fact that the "wired" machines work sure doesn't rule out a faulty router....But that's why (as part of a process of elimination troubleshooting scheme) I hooked up my old Linksys Router, and got the same results. Now...What are the odds of 2 separate routers acting the same way? Especially when both worked fine on my TIPB and even on my MBP until a few months ago. Plus, my 12 year old son can pull a wireless signal from the router on his console games (xbox360, Wii, PS3) with no problem
Believe me, my first thought was to go out and buy another router, but when I swapped routers and got the same problem, I began to look elsewhere, eventually coming here for help and knowledge.
I did the SMC reset to no avail. I'm not sure about the stuff in System Configuration....By "pull" do you mean to delete all the files in this folder? Move them to a temporary folder? Should I just deal with the folders that have "IP" in the "bundle" file name?
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I tried to work this for a telephone system Yvonne but stopped work and not work, what do I do

Tried to work this phone system iphone3g but stops working system did not speak ..What can I do to restart the phone???

Post in your native language... your statments make no sense in English.

Hi. i tried to sign out from icloud and the icon signing out is still working. will i loose everything now i have saved on my mac? i cant even turn off the mac because system preferences is still working .....

Hi
I signed out from my icloud because wanted to change my maill address and password for it cause couldnt connect with my old password and mail acc i dont know why.But then realised that i will loose all my data...
Will i loose eveything i have saved now on my mac by signing out the icloud?
and is still 'signing out'...cant turn off my mac and 'system preferences' is still working..
Can i re instal it back?
Please advice what to do ....how to cancel signing out....turn off my mac...or re instal icloud...
Thank you

I have the same problem. Unfortunately, the troubleshooting link you added has the first step listed as "Verify that FaceTime is enabled in FaceTime > Preferences" which we (the original poster and I) can't do as our Preferences are greyed out. We can't click on them to verify anything.
In FaceTime itself it's verified my apple id (also double checked via the site) and then it says the email is "verified" but then it freezes and after a minute or so it says "Could not verify the email address. Please check your network connection and try again."
After checking the network connection, it still doesn't work. It's rather frustrating as it all worked fine until about a week or two ago.
Any help would be appreciated.
-H

Just installed osx snow leopard on my imac. System preferences froze. Was trying to change desktop appearance. No force quit. Had to just shut down computer, twice. What now?????

I just installed os x snow leopard on my iMac. The system preference is frozen. I was trying to the change desktop apprearance when it froze. Force quit did not work. I just rebooted. Same thing happened again. What to do???????

I did run disk utility through the install disc, It made a few corrections but not this one. It still freezes in the screen saver window. I've decided just not to go there anymore!!!!!! We shall see if any other problems pop up with this newly installed OS x snow leopard
Thanks for all of your prompt help.
Cary
I could not reply to our correspondence

Apple Menu System Preferences no longer works

When I click on the System Preferenes item under the Apple Menu, nothing happens, but when I click on the System Preferences icon in the Dock, the System Preferences pane opens normally. How can I reactivate the System Preferences item in the Apple Menu?
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George,
Thanks for asking that question.
I offered this solution based upon similar successful advice which was given to another poster who solved this problem:Long story short I ended up reinstalling Mac OS X using Archive and Install. When I first used the computer following reinstalling Mac OS X, I was able to access the System Preferences by selecting them under the Apple in the menu bar. However, I have now updated my software using Software Update, and now I can't access System Preferences when I click on them under the Apple in the menu. The computer just acts like I never selected System Preferences.
Where have System Preferences gone??? provides another example of Previous Systems folder interfering with System Preferences.
Applications don't work after reinstalling Mac OS X explains a different problem with a Previous Systems folder: Example 1: You downgrade by performing an Archive and Install installation, but do not update to a later version of Mac OS X. The Previous Systems folder contains later versions of applications that may contribute to this issue.If you have proper backups, I recommend trashing the Previous Systems folder as soon as you can determine that the new system is functioning properly. The Previous Systems folders will either take up too much space or contribute to unexplained system problems.
;~)

My system preferences is not working/ responding. Please help.

System Preferences is inactive. On the dock the Icon has a question mark on it.
I tried other solutions on here, but nothing has work. Please help. Thank you
Mac OS X 10.6.8

I was asking if the problem could be reproduced in another account. If not then we know it's something lock only to your account. But if you don't want to create another account we'll try some alternate scheme...
Is System Preferences.app in your /Applications folder? If it is double click it to see if it launches.
It is possible you deleted it or moved it. That would explain the question mark in the dock since the dock entry doen't find the actual System Preference app in /Applications.
If it isn't in /Applications you need to find it. If it is deleted you need to reinstall it from somewhere (reinstall, or a backup for example).

After system restore CS3 stopped working and can not be uninstalled

I did a system restore (W7) and my CS3 apps stopped working with the message "Licensing for this product stopped functioning. Currently you cannot use this product. Solve this problem by uninstalling and reinstalling or contact support." I tried to uninstall but the installation manager returns a list of applications with red X and "unsuccessful" next to it. Reinstalling it from the dvd returns: "Installation error, can not continue. Contact support. Internal error 2739". I do not really want to reinstall the whole system since other Adobe applications (PS CS6) work just fine.

Try using the Cleaner Tool
Adobe Creative Suite Cleaner Tool
helps resolve installation problems for CS3 thru CS6 and for Creative Cloud
http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

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Few have solved this problem by repairing disk
or reinstalling Lion using Recovery HD.
Tough but.

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No, it's located in a different room from the router; neither can be changed. It's not plugged directly into a Mac, but into an ethernet switch into which the Mac is also plugged.
Surely if I could plug it into the router, that would make it directly accessible to all devices on the wireless network. That's not the issue. Because I can't do that, I want to make it available through Scanner Sharing. This is what isn't working, although Printer Sharing of the same device in the same configuration is working.

Searching within System Preferences no longer works

Hi all, the search box in system preferences used to highlight relevant icons to my search. now however it dims as if about to show a spotlight but it never appears, it undims when i delete the search term. have tried obvious searches such as "volume", "keyboard" etc... to verify.
have a feeling its been a while as have had some fruitless searches over some time but just assumed it was me searching for the wrong thing...
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My System Preferences is not working?

I changed my desktop background and when I did, the system preferences opened and said "Loading Images..." and my mouse became the spinning wheel. I ma force closed it nuemrous times as well as shut down and restart my computer. Any help on how to make this work?

Quit System Preferences if it's running. In the Finder, hold down the option key and select Go ▹ Library from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
and move the following item to the Desktop:
Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Log out and log back in. If you still have the issue, put the item on the Desktop back where it came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the item.

System preferences froze, stopped working

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