System preferences won't appear

the subject pretty much sums it up. I can't get sys pref to open up no matter what I try. I just click it and no window opens. any solutions?

Hi.
Try moving to the Desktop:
User/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
and the subfolders in User/Library/Caches/System Preferences (they're numbered 00, 02, etc.)
and restart.
Good Luck.
MacMini G4 1.25GHz 1GB Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Similar Messages

My System Preferences won't let me open accounts?

My System Preferences won't let me open accounts? I really need it to work please help. Hugz and kissez Abbyxoxo1010

Hello Makena Little,
It sounds like you are unable to change your wallpaper background because that section of your System Preferences says that it is loading adn will not finish. I recommend performing a Safe Boot, then leaving it and retesting the issue:
OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564
Starting up in Safe Mode
To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), follow these steps.
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key.
The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple logo and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
After the logo appears, you should see a progress bar during startup. This indicates that your computer is performing a directory check as part of Safe Mode.
To leave Safe Mode, restart your computer without holding any keys during startup.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the best,
Sterling

Many of my System preferences won't load in mavericks?

Since updating to 10.9 many of my system preferences won´t load. These are:
- Security: You can’t open Security & Privacy preferences because it doesn’t work on an Intel-based Mac.
- Notifications: Could not load Notifications preference pane.
- Printers & Scanners: Could not load Printers & Scanners preference pane.
- iCloud: Could not load iCloud preference pane.
- Internet accounts: Could not load Internet Accounts preference pane.
- Networks: Could not load Network preference pane.
- Sharing: You can’t open Sharing preferences because it doesn’t work on an Intel-based Mac.
- Users & Groups: You can’t open Users & Groups preferences because it doesn’t work on an Intel-based Mac.
- Parental Controls: Could not load Parental Controls preference pane.
- Date & Time: You can’t open Date & Time preferences because it doesn’t work on an Intel-based Mac.
Any hints on a solution are greatly appreciated!
Best regards, Mikkel

To further explain:
     I didn't need to locate any invisible files in my case. I discovered that I had 4 versions of the System Preferences application on my computer. (The System Preference applicatioin is what loads the preference pains when you seledt System Preferences.) I merely searched for "System Preferences" in spotlight. Spotlight located 4 different versions of the System Preferences application. Some of those versions apparently tied to preference panes that used the old 32 bit encoding from the non Intel processor days. When I clicked on the System Preferences under the Apple menue it was apparently pulling up an old version of the System Preferences applicatioin instead of the correct one in the main Applications folder. I also noted that if I clicked on System Preferernces in the dock or directly in the the Applications folder, I would not have the problem of some of the preference panes not able to be viewed because of the " "it doesn’t work on an Intel-based Mac" message. So I surmised that the correct System Preferences application was in the Applications Folder on the top level of the drive directory like it was supposed to be but that when I clicked on System Preferences from the Apple menue it was loading one of the 3 old System Preferences applications that were buried elsewhere on my hard drive. If you find you have more than one System Preferences application on your hard drive you need to trash the other System Preferences Applications. Before trashing the duplicates, you should test the one in the main Applications folder by directly double clicking it and make sure all the preference panes in it work properly then trash the duplicate System Preferences applications you found in spotlight.
     You may also find like I did, that you not only have duplicates of the System Preferences on your hard drive but also several old duplicates of the entire Applications folder buried on your hard drive. if that is the case you should compare each folder and make sure there is nothing in the old duplicate Applications folders you still need. You will probably find that all of the latest versions of your applications are in the main Applications folder where they should be. If so then trash all the old duplicate Applications folders as well. Keep only the main Applications folder on the top level of the hard drive.
     Trashing all these extra old Applications folders that held old duplicates of all my applications in them on my hard drive solved a bunch of other problems I was having with some of the applications as well.
     For the technically minded: Why does this happen with Mavericks and not with Mountain Lion? I suspect that the old Applications folders and old duplicate System Sreferences applications didn't matter to Mountain Lion because it searched for the System Preference application under the Apple menu differently than Mavericks does. I believe Mountain Lion seached all the top levels of the Application folder before drilling down into any subfolders to find the System Preferences application. Mavericks apparently does it the opposite way. It searches the first subfolder in you Applications folder and drills all the way down in that subfolder first before going to the next subfolder and drilling down in that subfolder all the way to the bottom. So it searches all the subfolders before searching the main level of the Applications folder for System Preferences. Since my old duplicate System Preferences applications where in subfolders with titles that were earlier in the alphabet than the main System Preferences application it searched those subfolders first, found the old System Preferences application in the those earlier folders and loaded the old System Preferences first in the subfolders instead of the correct one further on in the main Applications folder. If any one else has a better idea let me know.
--Scott
micmac2105 wrote:
Hello,
have the same problem, however, I do not understand the hint for solving the problem.
How to show invisible files?
How to find applications/system preferences and call Get info from file menu?
Where are all these things, have never seen them before or heard of them.
Thanks for help
Michael
micmac2105 wrote:
Hello,
have the same problem, however, I do not understand the hint for solving the problem.
How to show invisible files?
How to find applications/system preferences and call Get info from file menu?
Where are all these things, have never seen them before or heard of them.
Thanks for help
Michael
micmac2105 wrote:
Hello,
have the same problem, however, I do not understand the hint for solving the problem.
How to show invisible files?
How to find applications/system preferences and call Get info from file menu?
Where are all these things, have never seen them before or heard of them.
Thanks for help
Michael

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!!

My system preferences won't load. It opens straight up to the desktop folder and pictures won't load, leaving me with a color wheel. I've tried restarting my computer and that doesn't help. System preferences just won't open/load at all. Any ideas?

My system preferences won't load. It opens straight up to the desktop folder and pictures won't load, leaving me with a color wheel. I've tried restarting my computer and that doesn't help. System preferences just won't open/load at all. Any ideas?

Deleting the System Preference or other .plist file
..Step by Step to fix your Mac

Popup message: "Google password required, enter your password for .." Internet account window in system preferences won't open. How do I fix?

Google accounts are suddenly offline. Popup: "Google Password Required, Enter your password for ... in Internet Accounts." continues to System Preferences/Internet Accounts. Account window won't open. I just get the grey circling system-working-on-it icon. Suggestions.

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.
The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select
SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Then try to open the preference pane. Select any lines that appear in the Console window. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.
The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.
Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
Some private information, such as your name or email address, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

After OS Upgrade, System Preferences won't recognize audio input/output.

When I got an iPhone, I had to upgrade to OS 10.5.8, as well as upgrade Safari (to 4.0.3) and iTunes (to 9.0.1) for everything to run smoothly, and it does.
However, since I went though the motions last week with these upgrades, System Preferences or Utilities doesn't want to recognize my audio input/output jacks. It won't recognize when I plug in my stereo or my headphones. I hook up my computer to my stereo all the time to listen to music in the living areas of my apartment, and now I can't because it isn't reading the jack.
Any suggestions? How can I get the system to fix this problem?

Check your Audio MIDI Setup settings.
These are user-to-user forums where everyday folk post questions and offer answers to each other. Apple does not contribute to this message board. None of us has any idea what Apple is going to do until they do it.
If you feel it's a "problem" did you post in the Product Feedback area?

System preferences won't "stick" after archive & restore

Because my OS10.3 appeared to be damaged, I did an archive and restore using the OS10.2.3 disk that came with my computer. After the restore I find that I cannot get any changes I make to the system preferences to stick. For example, with "Energy Saver" the preferences, after restore were "custom" and the "show battery status" was unchecked. I unlocked, using my account ID and password, changed the settings to "presentation", checked "show battery status", and locked. Nothing changed in the menu bar and when I restarted, the Energy Saver preferences had reverted to the initial ones and was unlocked. This problem is particularly bad because I can't change the network preferences and get back on the Internet through my airport system. What did I do wrong?!
LarryNM

Oh I see. I guessed wrong then. Unfortunately I neither use 10.2 nor Airport so lacking the personal experience to help you, may I suggest also posting in the Airport forum, as someone there may be able to get you more quickly online. Here is the link,
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1011

"Accounts" in "System Preferences" won't open

I am trying to access the "Accounts" window in "System Preferences", but it won't open.
I am getting two messages:
"To use the "Accounts" preferences pane, System Preferences must quit and reopen."
I clicked on "Ok"
*Preferences Error*
Could not load Accounts preference pane.
I have restarted and shut down my MBP to see if that helped. Didn't work. What am I suppose to do?

I have the same issue and I have tried everything. I really would love to resolve this System preference error as well! It will take me forever to reload all of my pro apps and even longer to restore my user settings. This almost makes backing up your data impossible if re-installing is the last option. I've tried restarted in safe mood. Trying different admin rights, trying to extract the corrupt files using pacifist, repairing disk, I've had this issue for months and I have had no luck with finding solution. Any one for more solution ideas?
I also came across this with working with Apple Remote Desktop!

System Preferences won't save after change

Hello everyone,
I am running Mac OS 10.5.8 on a Black Macbook. The problem I am having is that none my changes will save in the system preferences. For example. I change the desktop background but the background won't change. The display window in the systems preferences window will show the picture I chose, but the desktop won't.
Another example: if I turn off "spaces" in systems preferences. It will show as off in the system preferences window, but as soon as I close the system preferences window, the changes won't take affect. This seems to happen with any change to settings in the system preferences.
I have recently used both "disk warrior" and Onyx to rebuild my desktop, check my drive and everything else those applications do. But still no change.
One more hint: I deleted an application (TomTom home) from my computer a few months ago, but the old icon shows up in the Dock as a "?" after each restart. I can drag it ot the desktop and delete it, but if I restart it will always show up.
What could be wrong? Should I do a reinstall? I don't have the disks...
Thanks Mac folks!

Ok, I tried both removing the "com.apple.systempreference.plist" and restarting from both a Disk Warrior disk, and the Mac OS X Install CD 1 and doing a repair of the disk permissions. Neither of the tricks worked.
I no longer have a "com.apple.systempreference.plist" file anywhere on my computer and I still have the same problems.
So what should I do now? I have (obviously) found my original disks. I am thinking I need to do a new install of the system software? What is the process for doing that and not lose my data?
Thanks again for everybodies help.
Josh

SYSTEM PREFERENCES: numerous prefPanes appear broken

I have just upgraded to Mavericks 10.9.1
I appear to be having a similar issue to the user who gave up in this thread:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/23979507#23979507
The issues I've had with prefpanes are:
1. In the Internet accounts pane, changes to iCloud do not stick. For example, if I check the "keychain" radio button to add to iCloud it will check for a moment and then become unchecked.
the "Manage" button does not work. it clicks but nothing happens.
the "Options" button next to the documents item does not work, it clicks but nothing happens.
Additionally I am unable to add any account. when I select an account type from the list, it highlights briefly then nothing more happens.
The "Advanced" button does not work. It clicks but nothing happens.
The Details button next to my icloud account does not work. it clicks but nothing happens.
2.The ICloud pane has the same problems. changes do not stick. the "account details" and "sign out" buttons are clickable but do nothing. the "manage button" does nothing.
3. The "Advanced" button on settings panels where it appears is clickable but does not launch the advanced settings window.
4. The Network pane lets me delete services but the + button to add a new servce does nothing other than make the system preferences window flash. The revert button works, the Advanced button does not (like with all panes). The drop down list of functions from the preferences gear button appears, but selecting items in the list does nothing. I am able to connect and disconnect from existing network services but not add new ones although Network Setup Assistant launches from the "Assist me..." button so I may be able to add a new service from there.
5. Printers and Scanners lets me add but not delete devices. Open print queue works. Options and Supplies does not.
6. Users and Groups: I'm able to unlock the pane but cannot add or remove users. I am unable to change the Apple ID for my account. The contacts card button does not open. I can check and un check items in the login items and delete login items but it will not let me add new login in items to the list. FWIW I am able to add items to the list in Mac Pilot 6.
Troulbe shooting steps taken so far:
I've attempted to delete the .plist file for Internet Accounts and restart. this caused the online backup to activate and restore all the accounts, but the problems remain.
I've repaired permissions.
I've verified the SMART status of the hard drive
I am logged in as an administrator with full privileges.
I tried resetting Global preferences and it did not work.
Safe boot does not fix the problem.
I am unable to create a new account to see if it works as it did with the other user because I don't know how to do that other than by using the Users pref pane which is broken.
Any advice or assistance would be much appreciated.

Did some more digging and this thread resolves the issue: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5484035?start=0&tstart=0
My google-fu failed to turn this one up, so hopefully a few more links will help the knowledge spread about abit
The short version is this is a problem apparently caused by the UserInterface getting confused when drop shadows are turned off. There are a set of terminal commands starting on Page 6 of that thread that seem to fix the problem. they did for me.

My system preferences won't let me change anything

Ever since I upgraded to Mavericks, my system preferences have been broken. Anything which requires a button to be clicked for a new window to open (the most recent time is when I tried to change my gatekeeper settings) simply does nothing. I've repaired my permissions, reinstalled Mavericks, nothing has worked so far.
Does anyone have any idea what I could do to fix this? I've also tried disabling gatekeeper in Terminal but it isn't working. However let me stress, it's not just gatekeeper that is broken, clicking the often present "Advanced" or "Assist me" buttons also do nothing at all.
Thanks for any help!

Hello Makena Little,
It sounds like you are unable to change your wallpaper background because that section of your System Preferences says that it is loading adn will not finish. I recommend performing a Safe Boot, then leaving it and retesting the issue:
OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564
Starting up in Safe Mode
To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), follow these steps.
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key.
The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple logo and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
After the logo appears, you should see a progress bar during startup. This indicates that your computer is performing a directory check as part of Safe Mode.
To leave Safe Mode, restart your computer without holding any keys during startup.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the best,
Sterling

HT200100 Just upgraded to 7.4 and system preferences won't launch. Any suggestions?

I've just upgraded to Lion 7.4 and the individual system preferences panes won't launch. Any suggestions?

I am having the same issue. Users folder also seems to be locked.

System preferences won't start up

I recently installed OS 10.6.2 and I'm suddenly having a problem. I cannot open system preferences. I tried opening from the dock, from the applications folder, and by selecting under the apple icon. Nothing works. When I try to start it the small blue dot pulsates under the system preferences dock icon for a second or two, then stops. Nothing else happens.

Also from System Log:
Jan 11 22:01:42 Tom-Patins-Computer System Preferences[213]: An uncaught exception was raised
Jan 11 22:01:42 Tom-Patins-Computer System Preferences[213]: * -[NSCFArray insertObject:atIndex:]: attempt to insert nil
Jan 11 22:01:42 Tom-Patins-Computer System Preferences[213]: * Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '* -[NSCFArray insertObject:atIndex:]: attempt to insert nil'\n* Call stack at first throw:\n(\n 0 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff87130444 __exceptionPreprocess + 180\n 1 libobjc.A.dylib 0x00007fff87a4f0f3 objcexceptionthrow + 45\n 2 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff87130267 +[NSException raise:format:arguments:] + 103\n 3 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff871301f4 +[NSException raise:format:] + 148\n 4 Foundation 0x00007fff861d0c52 -[NSCFArray insertObject:atIndex:] + 119\n 5 System Preferences 0x0000000100004f71 0x0 + 4294987633\n 6 System Preferences 0x0000000100004671 0x0 + 4294985329\n 7 System Preferences 0x00000001000021bb 0x0 + 4294975931\n 8 System Preferences 0x0000000100001f87 0x0 + 4294975367\n 9 System Preferences 0x0000000100001ef1 0x0 + 4294975217\n 10 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff85180ce8 dispatch_call_block_andrelease + 15\n 11 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8515f87a dispatch_queuedrain + 251\n 12 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8515f6dc dispatch_queueinvoke + 57\n 13 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8515f286 dispatch_workerthread2 + 244\n 14 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8515ebb8 pthreadwqthread + 353\n 15 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8515ea55 start_wqthread + 13\n)
Jan 11 22:01:42 Tom-Patins-Computer [0x0-0x1e01e].com.apple.systempreferences[213]: terminate called after throwing an instance of 'NSException'
Jan 11 22:01:43 Tom-Patins-Computer com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[127] ([0x0-0x1e01e].com.apple.systempreferences[213]): Job appears to have crashed: Abort trap
Jan 11 22:01:43 Tom-Patins-Computer ReportCrash[216]: Saved crash report for System Preferences[213] version 7.0 (7.0) to /Users/tompatin/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/System Preferences2010-01-11-220143Tom-Patins-Computer.crash
Jan 11 22:06:53 Tom-Patins-Computer /System/Library/CoreServices/CCacheServer.app/Contents/MacOS/CCacheServer[155]: No valid tickets, timing out
Jan 11 22:06:54 Tom-Patins-Computer com.apple.kextcache[187]: InternalModemSupport.kext does not declare a kernel dependency; using com.apple.kernel.6.0.
Jan 11 22:06:54 Tom-Patins-Computer com.apple.kextcache[187]: SteerMouse.kext does not declare a kernel dependency; using com.apple.kernel.6.0.
Jan 11 22:06:58 Tom-Patins-Computer com.apple.kextcache[187]: InternalModemSupport.kext does not declare a kernel dependency; using com.apple.kernel.6.0.
Jan 11 22:06:58 Tom-Patins-Computer com.apple.kextcache[187]: SteerMouse.kext does not declare a kernel dependency; using com.apple.kernel.6.0.
Jan 11 22:07:07 Tom-Patins-Computer com.apple.kextcache[187]: Created prelinked kernel /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kext.caches/Startup/kernelcache_i386.62167C37.

System Preferences won't launch from Apple menu in Mac OS X 10.5.8

Hello there,
I recently upgraded to 10.6 and then went back to 10.5.5 in a few hours.
When doing so, I chose to save a folder called "Previous System", as the Installer gave me this option.
I've upgraded to 10.5.8 via Software Update, after prior 10.5.5 installation through the DVD.
At some point, I tried to launch the System Preferences through Apple menu and got the familiar message: "The application quit unexpectedly, etc.". Since then it's a recurrent problem. It's been 3 days.
However, it does open from the dock icon.
I still have the "Previous System" folder on my disk. I've moved a few things from it to my Library (i.e. some minor applications like Skype, some Desktop items like documents and folders, some photos, music, etc.). I've pretty much started from scratch with everything else - Finder preferences, Wacom tablet driver, etc.
Any clues? I've seen someone had the same problem with a downgrade from 10.5.8 to 10.4, but it's still a mystery as well.
Thanks in advance!
--

iyacyas wrote:
Try repairing permissions from Disk utilities...
Hey iyacyas, thanks for suggesting the disk permissions repair. I tried this, but it didn't work out.
I'm far from understanding any of this, but I tried to figure somethings out from the Report the crash sends to Apple and I noticed that it's trying to launch the "System Preferences" from the folder "Previous Systems"… gee!
Here it goes, in their own words:
Path: /Previous Systems.localized/2010-01-17_1147/Applications/SystemPreferences.app/Contents/M acOS/System Preferences
Anyone has any ideas how could I fix this? I mean, "tell" the Apple Menu to search for the System Preferences inside my ACTUAL Applications folder?
Thanks!
--

System preferences won't appear

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