System Preferences into trash

System Preferences on my desk top is it safe to put into trash.

Hi David
The Apple menu is not the place to look for the Applications Folder. You can use Spotlight to find it as JP recommends but here's another way of locating it that should be quicker. Click on the Finder icon at the left end of the dock and a window will open showing the folders in your hard drive. The Application Folder will be one of them. Open that and see if your System Prefs are in there.
The fact that you see System Prefs in the Apple menu tells me that it must be in the Applications folder so that's the good news But look in that folder just to be sure.
My guess at this point is that the icon you see on your desktop is an alias or a copy of System Prefs. But before trashing it we'd better be positive because you don't want to lose your System Prefs.
Rick

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I moved system preferences to trash and probably need to reboot computer help! I also cant open iphoto

I moved system preferences to trash and probably need to reboot computer help! I also cant open iphoto

Move it back. It is essential for the operation of thngs.

System preferences in trash

Every time I try to access system preferances on my mac it comes up with a notifacation that it is unable to open as it is in "Trash" when i try to find it in trash to remove it, it is not there. I have tryed system updates but nothinng has so far worked. Any help!??

It's apparent you have a major issue. Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on resolving Trash problems. If you don't find a solution there, then reinstall Snow Leopard:
Reinstall OS X without erasing the drive
1. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your Snow Leopard Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
2. Reinstall Snow Leopard
If the drive is OK then quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed with reinstalling OS X. Note that the Snow Leopard installer will not erase your drive or disturb your files. After installing a fresh copy of OS X the installer will move your Home folder, third-party applications, support items, and network preferences into the newly installed system.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

Finder, Mac HD, System Preferences, and Trash wont open!

Some icons on my desktop have become blank, and I cannot open finder in the dock. I click it, but it wont open. I cant open the "Mac HD" icon in the desktop either. Same with trash. I can use spotlight to search for things, but it is becoming very tedious, for I have never used it before. This all started when one night, I turned off my Mac Mini Version 10.5.8. When I turned it on, this issue occured. I have shut off, and restarted numerous times, done a boot to single user mode, even created a new user by entering all those letters after pressing shift, and the S key, but still, nothing! Please help me I don't know what to do :'(

Before doing anything make sure you have at least two backups.
Boot from your Tiger install disk and select Disk Utility from the menu after you select your language. Repair your boot disk. If there are any errors repeat the repair process until no errors are reported. Repair permissions.
If that doesn't help try resetting the PRAM. Hold down the Option-Command-P-R keys right after you hear the startup chime. Keep holding down the keys until the startup chime sounds twice.
If things still aren't working properly you can try installing the 10.5.8 Combo update over your current installation.
Mac OS X 10.5.8 Combo Update
As a last resort you could try doing an archive and install followed by an erase and install if the archive and install is unsuccessful.
Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5: About installation options

Is it possible to have your system preferences saved as a profile?

I have hooked my Mac up to my 40" TV. I'm using a clever little box that combines the minidisplay port and toslink into an HDMI output. However, I would like different settings in preferences depending on which display I'm using. For example I would like the dock, icons and cursor a bit bigger and optical audio output for the TV, but normal sized and analouge out for my usual monitor. Since I'll never be using both at the same time (I only have the one head) I'd like to be able to save my system preferences into 2 profiles and select between the 2 rather than manualy changing everything each time. Is this possible? It seems like it should be but I can't find a straight forward way to do it.
Two potential solutions spring to mind, first use different users for each display and switch between the 2 but this is far less than ideal. Secondly, set up for one display and save copies of the relevant plist files, then set up for the second display and save again then use a script/automator action to switch between the 2 and restart Finder. Although I have no idea about the technicalites of the second solution. All help appreciated.

Some progress on second idea. Saved a copy of universal access plist with cursor set to large then set the cursor to small again. Replacing the plist file had no effect until I went into the UA pane and changed a setting at which point it must rewrite the file and refresh because the cursor size also changed at this point.
Tried the same again and restarted Finder, no effect. Also tried altering another pref pane instead with no effect. Need a way to force the computer to look at the plist files, no idea how though. :-)

System Preferences crashes when I open screensaver panel after iTunes SS.

Whenever I try to open the screen saver panel in System Preferences (I'm actually just trying to change my desktop background, but I have to go through there first), System Preferences crashes. It seems to have started happening after I changed the number of rows in the iTunes artwork screen saver. I tried updating Mac OS X, running Yasu, and got nothing.
Is there anything I can do to fix this? Or is there any way to revert my screensaver settings back to default without having to actually go to the screensaver? I just wanna change my freaking background, this is ridiculous.
Thanks.

Welcome to the forum.
First try magic.
Resetting PRAM and NVRAM
1.Shut down the computer.
2.Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3.Turn on the computer.
4.Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5.Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6.Release the keys.
Than repair Disc permissions.
If above doesn't help,try this.
Quit System Preferences. Trash ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.preferencepanes.cache, where "~" means your home folder. (A new file will be created when you launch System Preferences again.)

System Preferences glitch

Hey guys, when i got my macbook back for RSD i had to run system updater, when i did that everything was perfect. THe only downside that i noticed was that in my system preferences, the picture or Print&Fax is glitched to a picture of a light switch and ininteigible letters underneath it.
Is there anyone out there that can post a link to that graphic and tell me how to replace the glitch one?
Thank you in advance!!!

Trash the file: User->Library->Caches->com.apple.preferencepanes.cache
Make sure to quit System Preferences before trashing the file. Put the file in the trash, empty and relaunch System Preferences.

Strange icon in system preferences...

any ideas what to do about this one? Instead of my "dock" icon, i'm getting some weird picture...
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9839/picture2xb7.png

Quit from System Preferences and trash com.apple.preferencepanes.cache, which you will find in ~/Library/Caches, i.e the Caches folder in the Library of your Home. A new cache file will be rebuilt automatically.
All the items in that Caches folder can do with being trashed every so often – they do tend to get corrupted or 'stale' – and they will be re-created afresh.

Does anybody know how to reinstall System Preferences? I accidentaly put System Preferences in the trash and emptied the trash :P

Does anybody know how to get System Preferences? A couple of weeks ago I put it in the trash and emptied it. Does anyone know how to reinstall it?

How Restore Deleted or Missing OS X Components
A few of the basic OS X installed applications can be restored from the Optional Installs installer located in the Optional installs folder on your Installer DVD. However, if what you need is not there then follow the instructions below.
How to Use Pacifist to Restore Deleted or Missing OS X Components
Insert the OS X Installer DVD into the optical drive. Use a simple utility like TinkerTool to toggle invisibility so you can see invisible items. Alternatively, open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder and at the prompt enter the following:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles Yes
Press RETURN.
To turn off the display of invisible files repeat the above command substituting No for Yes.
The install packages are located in the /System/Installation/ folder on the DVD.
Download the shareware utility Pacifist. Use it to extract a fresh copy of the missing item(s) from the file archives on your OS X installation DVD. The file archives are in the /System/Installations/ folder (use Go to Folder option in the Go menu of the Finder.)
Here are Four Basic ways to use Pacifist (courtesy of George Orville.)
A. Drag a .pkg icon onto the Pacifist window .....proceed to step 7.
B. Click on “Open Package ....” and navigate to package desired and click “Open” in
the open/save window.....proceed to step 7.
C. Insert Mac OS X installer CD and when it mounts, navigate to .... Menu->Go->Go
to Folder. In the path field enter or paste ....
/Volumes/disc name/System/Installation/Packages (where disc name is the name of the CD/DVD that you inserted.)
Click on the "Go" button ..... • Drag a .pkg to Pacifist..... proceed to step 7.
The package you'll need will have to be discovered by trial and error, but for most applications you should start with the Essentials.pkg and/or Additional Essentials.pkg.
D. Insert your Mac OS X install disk 1 .... and open Pacifist.
1. In Pacifist, select "Open Mac OS X Install Packages" ... dialog may appear asking for disk 2, then disk 3 and finally disk 1 again.... {if DVD is not used)...If “Stop Loading” is selected...the procedure will stop!!!
2a. When loading is complete, a new window appears, click the triangle to display contents of each package...Select item and proceed to step 7.
2b. or click the “Find” icon in the Pacifist window and type the name of the software you need.
3. In the list that comes back, click the top most entry for the item that you want. ..... that is the one for the English language.
4. On the top of the Pacifist window, click “verify” .... you will probably be prompted for your password.
5. Enter checks for.... “verify permissions” and “verify file contents.” and click “verify” ....enter password when prompted.... you will get back output which may look like this:
20 files were scanned. 20 of 20 files were present on the hard disk. 0 of 20 files had file permissions that did not match those specified in the package. 0 of 20 files had checksums that did not match those specified in the package.
6. Click “close”. Go to step 7.
Extract or Install........
7. In the Toolbar (upper left), you now have the option to extract or install. Click a file in the lower list and those two icons will be enabled.
8. If “Extract to...” is selected.... navigate to the location where the file will be placed, select “choose”, select “extract” in new dialog that appears,authenicate , if prompted, click “OK”.
9. In the next dialog, click “Extract”.
10. If “Install” is selected... dialog will appear with the location/path of the installed software. Click “Install”
11. Type in your password, click “OK”
Pacifist will begin to extract files.
12. In steps 8/10ß.... you also have the choice to “cancel”
Notes: Pacifist may find that a file it is installing already exists on the hard disk. Pacifist will present you with an alert panel....
• Stop
• Leave original alone
• Update .....
• Default selection
• Replace .... (Replace option should only be used on full install packages)

Some how I have deleted the system Preferences application. I had already deleted everything from the trash bend before I realized system pref. was deleted. How can I recover or get it downloaded?

Somehow I have deleted the system Preferences application. I had already deleted everything from the trash bend before I realized system pref. was deleted. How can I recover or get it downloaded? Everything has been transferred to my new mac pro, but would like to give this old mac to son-in-law. Can I download system preferences back into this old mac?
Sidney Jean Bienvenu

How Restore Deleted or Missing OS X Components
A few of the basic OS X installed applications can be restored from the Optional Installs installer located in the Optional installs folder on your Installer DVD. However, if what you need is not there then follow the instructions below.
How to Use Pacifist to Restore Deleted or Missing OS X Components
Insert the OS X Installer DVD into the optical drive. Use a simple utility like TinkerTool to toggle invisibility so you can see invisible items. Alternatively, open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder and at the prompt enter the following:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles Yes
Press RETURN.
To turn off the display of invisible files repeat the above command substituting No for Yes.
The install packages are located in the /System/Installation/ folder on the DVD.
Download the shareware utility Pacifist. Use it to extract a fresh copy of the missing item(s) from the file archives on your OS X installation DVD. The file archives are in the /System/Installations/ folder (use Go to Folder option in the Go menu of the Finder.)
Here are Four Basic ways to use Pacifist (courtesy of George Orville.)
Drag a .pkg icon onto the Pacifist window .....proceed to step 7.
Click on “Open Package ....” and navigate to package desired and click “Open” in the open/save window.....proceed to step 7.
Insert Mac OS X installer CD and when it mounts, navigate to .... Menu->Go->Go to Folder. In the path field enter or paste ....
/Volumes/disc name/System/Installation/Packages (where disc name is the name of the CD/DVD that you inserted.)
Click on the "Go" button ..... • Drag a .pkg to Pacifist..... proceed to step 7.
The package you'll need will have to be discovered by trial and error, but for most applications you should start with the Essentials.pkg and/or Additional Essentials.pkg.
D. Insert your Mac OS X install disk 1 .... and open Pacifist.
1.          In Pacifist, select "Open Mac OS X Install Packages" ... dialog may appear asking for disk 2, then disk 3 and finally disk 1 again.... {if DVD is not used)...If “Stop Loading” is selected...the procedure will stop!!!
2a. When loading is complete, a new window appears, click the triangle to display contents of each package...Select item and proceed to step 7.
2b.          or click the “Find” icon in the Pacifist window and type the name of the software you need.
3.          In the list that comes back, click the top most entry for the item that you want. ..... that is the one for the English language.
4.          On the top of the Pacifist window, click “verify” .... you will probably be prompted for your password.
5.          Enter checks for.... “verify permissions” and “verify file contents.” and click “verify” ....enter password when prompted.... you will get back output which may look like this:
          20 files were scanned. 20 of 20 files were present on the hard disk. 0 of 20 files had file permissions that did not match those specified in the package. 0 of 20 files had checksums that did not match those specified in the package.
6.          Click “close”. Go to step 7.
Extract or Install........
7.          In the Toolbar (upper left), you now have the option to extract or install. Click a file in the lower list and those two icons will be enabled.
8.          If “Extract to...” is selected.... navigate to the location where the file will be placed, select “choose”, select “extract” in new dialog that appears,authenicate , if prompted, click “OK”.
9.          In the next dialog, click “Extract”.
10.          If “Install” is selected... dialog will appear with the location/path of the installed software. Click “Install”
11.          Type in your password, click “OK”
Pacifist will begin to extract files.
12.          In steps 8/10ß.... you also have the choice to “cancel”
Notes:          Pacifist may find that a file it is installing already exists on the hard disk. Pacifist will present you with an alert panel....
Stop
Leave original alone
Update .....
Default selection
Replace .... (Replace option should only be used on full install packages)

Cannot log into iCloud via system preferences on MAC

I am trying to enter my icloud password on my mac and it seems to just be thinking. If i enter the incorrect one it tells me that I've entered the wrong one. Not sure what is going on. I even went as far as changing my password, I then updated it on my iphone, it was accepted, I went to icloud on the web and was able to log in but once again when I try on the mac it just contines to think. Suggestions??
Thank you in advance!

You might try the following, you may be able to skip the first few steps depending where you are up to with your troubleshooting.
1. Sign out of your account
(If you are unable to do this because System Preferences has frozen, Force Quit System Preferences and try again)
2. When prompted, opt to delete, contacts, calendars etc from your Mac.
(You are only deleting this data from your Mac, not from iCloud, the data will be reinstated when you log back in. If you need to check that the data is in iCloud before deleting it go to iCloud.com and check each section for data)
3. Having logged out, check that the iCloud accounts along with their data have disappeared from the Mail, Address Book and iCal Applications.
(If necessary, delete the iCloud accounts from each of these application separately from each Applications Preferences)
4. At this point it may be worth trying to log into iCloud from the System Preferences iCloud settings again, if this works, all well and good, if it doesn't continue to step 5.
5. Open your User Library folder in the Finder. (When in the Finder, go to the Go menu, hold down the option key (alt) and choose Library when it appears in the Go menu)
6. Navigate to Library > Application Support > iCloud and drag the iCloud folder to your desktop. (This action only copies the folder and will provide you with a back up)
7. Select the iCloud folder again in Library > Application Support and drag it to the trash, enter your administrators password when prompted.
8. Restart your computer.
9. You should now be able to enter your ID and Password in system Preferences > iCloud and log into your account. Check the services you wish to use and once you are satisfied it's working as it should, trash the iCloud folder you copied to your desktop earlier.

I keep trying to sign into my iCloud on system preferences but it keeps saying it is unable to communicate with iCloud

I keep trying to sign into iCloud on my system preferences but it keeps saying that its unable to sign in because of a problem communicationg with iCloud, and i've tried to create a new account but then it says i cant create one at this time.

Welcome to the Apple Community Abbey.
Try the following, it won't cause any problems if it it doesn't work...
Navigate to Macintosh HD > library > preferences > system configuration and drag the 'Networkinterfaces.plist' file to the trash and restart the mac. Now try again.

How do I uninstall Mackeeper? I have dragged it into trash, but it still showing in systems information and causing problems!

How do I uninstall Mackeeper? I have dragged it into trash, but it still showing in systems information and causing problems!
Please advise

How to uninstall MacKeeper - updated
How to Remove MacKeeper
Uninstalling Software: The Basics
Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.
Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.
Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.
Some applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the "-" button to delete it from the list.
Some software use startup daemons or agents that are a new feature of the OS. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.
If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Unfortunately Spotlight will not look in certain folders by default. You can modify Spotlight's behavior or use a third-party search utility, EasyFind, instead.
Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. Usually with the same name as the program or the developer. The item generally has a ".pkg" extension. Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.
There are many utilities that can uninstall applications. Here is a selection:
    1. AppZapper
    2. AppDelete
    3. Automaton
    4. Hazel
    5. AppCleaner
    6. CleanApp
    7. iTrash
    8. Amnesia
    9. Uninstaller
10. Spring Cleaning
For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

System Preferences Trashed by Mistake

My System Preferences icon has been dragged into the trash and the trash emptied. There is no sign of the icon anywhere (dock, applications etc.)
Any idea how to get it back?!
iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

The System Preferences application is normally located in the Applications folder. Is it the application that's been deleted or simply the Dock icon? If it's the Dock icon that was removed, then simply locate System Preferences in the Applications folder and drag the icon into the Dock. If you've deleted the application then:
Restoring Lost OS X Files
If you erase or otherwise "lose" an OS X system application or utility (such as Mail or Disk Utility, for example) you can restore them without having to reinstall OS X.
Download the shareware utility Pacifist. Read the documentation. Use Pacifist to extract a fresh copy of the missing application from the file archives on your OS X Installer disc. The file archives are usually found on the installer disc in the /System/Installations/ folder.
After restoring the application you need to reinstall the OS X Combo Updater for the version of OS X you currently have installed. This assures the new copy of the application is updated to the current version.
Lastly, it's a good idea to repair permissions.
Why reward points?(Quoted from Discussions Terms of Use.)
The reward system helps to increase community participation. When a community member gives you (or another member) a reward for providing helpful advice or a solution to their question, your accumulated points will increase your status level within the community.
Members may reward you with 5 points if they deem that your reply is helpful and 10 points if you post a solution to their issue. Likewise, when you mark a reply as Helpful or Solved in your own created topic, you will be awarding the respondent with the same point values.

TS3989 New MacAir but photostream does not work. Message though everything is on. "In order to use Photo Stream, you have to be signed into your iCloud account in System Preferences." And,

New computer but Photostream does not work. I am signed into my account but get the following message: In order to use Photo Stream, you have to be signed into your iCloud account in System Preferences. I go to system preferences and then get a message that says that my account cannot be accessed. However, I am using my icloud account for email and other items and it works fine. Any thoughts?

Are you getting this messages in iPhoto? If so try the following (again?):
Log out of iCloud in the System/iCloud preference pane and disable Photo Stream in iPhoto's Photo Share preference pane. Then log back in and re-enable, respectively. That should jump start Photo Stream.
OT

System Preferences into trash

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