Sounds like it's deleted or been renamed. Pacifist ftw?
Found this as far as instructions:
tell you cousin to download a free trial of Pacifist and then follow these steps.
insert the first grey install DVD
open Pacifist and click "Open Apple Install Discs"
click skip when it asks you for the second install DVD and then insert the first again
search for "system preferences" in the toolbar and press enter
click the Install button in the toolbar and supply the admininstator password
System Preferences will then be reinstalled. in Leopard System Preferences is version 5.0 right now so the version on the Leopard install disc wont be outdated. however if your cousin is using Tiger it might not be the right version.
Sounds like it's deleted or been renamed. Pacifist ftw?
Found this as far as instructions:
tell you cousin to download a free trial of Pacifist and then follow these steps.
System Preferences will then be reinstalled. in Leopard System Preferences is version 5.0 right now so the version on the Leopard install disc wont be outdated. however if your cousin is using Tiger it might not be the right version.
(from accidentally deleted 'system preference' -.- - Mac Forums)