System Preferences & Software Update won't launch from Apple Menu

I could really use some help with this, I've tried google searches etc and nothing has worked out.
I recently upgraded from 10.4.11 to 10.5.8 and then changed back to 10.4.11
When it was installed (from a Universal retail not the DVD that came with the mac) I copied all the folders from "Previous System" and replaced the newly made ones.
At some point I was using System Preferences when it vanished with the usual message "Closed unexpectedly, reopen, close etc". Since then neither System Preferences nor Software Update will launch from the apple menu. System Preferences will, however, open from the dock.
When they are clicked on the hard drive makes some noise and then stops and nothing appears.
Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hi catloo, and a warm welcome to the forums!
This is the Tiger/10.4 forums & you might get a better answer on the 10.5 forums.
It's quite acceptable to start a new topic of your own, feel free to start a new topic to attract more helpers to your particular situation, here's a link if as is often the case, it's hard to find out where to do it...
http://discussions.apple.com/post!default.jspa?forumID=1221

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iyacyas wrote:
Try repairing permissions from Disk utilities...
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Hello,
My System Preferences opens from the dock and from Finder, but not from the Apple menu.
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Mar 8 17:14:01 david-cains-computer crashdump[10475]: System Preferences crashed
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null

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I'm not sure what you mean by "erasing" .. did you drag that .plist file to the Trash, empty the Trash and reboot?
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If that didn't help, check out this thread. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=551561
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Looking into my Network settings revealed that I was indeed still connected to the internet, via my Airport, all systems go. However, I noticed that "show airport status in menu bar" was unchecked, so I checked the box. Which apparently did jack squat b/c there's still no icon.
For the last couple weeks, as long as I've been connected to the internet, I could really give a flying flip about whether the airport status icon is there or not. I mean, seriously. I know this computer is a little old so why rock the boat on something trivial?
Until today. Today I was determined to figure out where the icon is, why it went away and if there are any other underlying problems.
I started first with Internet connect. Applications->Internet Connect, clicked on the purple IC button, only to have it launch in the dock, bounce once, then quit.
_A crash log shows:_
Host Name: Handlevandal's-Computer.local
Date/Time: 2008-06-18 09:13:15 -0400
OS Version: 10.3.9 (Build 7W98)
Report Version: 2
Command: Internet Connect
Path: /Applications/Internet Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Internet Connect
Version: ??? (???)
PID: 437
Thread: Unknown
Link (dyld) error:
dyld: /Applications/Internet Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Internet Connect truncated or malformed library: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/InternetConnect.framework/Versions/A/Internet Connect (file is empty)
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_Crash log shows:_
Mac OS X Version 10.3.9 (Build 7W98)
2008-06-18 13:56:17 -0400
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2008-06-18 13:56:19.214 SystemUIServer[200] Error loading AirPort Menu Extra: Couldn't initialize shared Controller
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dyld: /Applications/Internet Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Internet Connect truncated or malformed library: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/InternetConnect.framework/Versions/A/Internet Connect (file is empty)
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This ridiculously long post boils down to 2 questions, really.
• Any ideas why Internet Connect and Software Update won't open and how to fix?
• Where in the world is my Airport status icon? (not that it matters since I'm connected to the internet, but doggone it!)
I've run Disk Utility, repaired permissions and the HD checks out fine. I'm just at a loss (not surprising, given my limited amount of fix-it-yerself knowledge)
Should I just put up, shut up and be grateful that these problems, while aggravating, aren't majorly disrupting my life?

Okay no worries, can't find where to delete this post...

System Preferences & Software Update won't launch from Apple Menu

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