Mac problem

Anyone know how I can get my System Preferences back? It won't open from the dock (just get a shadow of a ? over the icon) or from the apple menu. I've done Repair Permissions and that didn't work, so am I going to have to do a full reinstall? Using Mac OS X v.10.5.5

Thanks in advance to any genius out there.

re-start??

Have you tried finding it with spot light?

i got the same problem... fairly compenent with macs, dont know how to fix it though. TBH not really looked into it... have you tried google?

There is also supposed to be a link to system preferences in the applications folder. I'm guessing you checked, and it wasn't there?

try applejacking.

Ive had a mac for about six months, still dont know how it truly works.

Anyone know where I can learn more geeky stuff about the OS?

With windows I knew where all the important system files, drivers etc were and what they did. If my computer got a virus or had a screwed up registry I could easily fix it myself.

Also knew basic command stuff.

Anybody know how I can get to grips with the guts of mac in the same way?

Re-start - check, no good; doesn't appear in spotlight; can't find it in applications; google led to Repair Permissions....

applejacking??

open finder, then click up in the search folder, then type system preferences, when you find it click it and once its open right click (however u do that depending on which mac system) the icon in the dock and click keep in dock and voila.

or you have deleted it forever in this case erm.....pass

Sorry if this is really obvious but has it disappeared from the drop down bar under the apple logo in the top left corner as well? I never go to system preferences from my dock, always from up there.

it's Macworld in a couple of days. they'll be announcing new hardware. planned obsolescence, innit? ;)

just kidding.

The truth of that comment still stings though..

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.

(from accidentally deleted 'system preference' -.- - Mac Forums)

OK, so it's not appearing in finder, so I guess I must have deleted it at some point. Fuck, how I do that?!

Horation - that sounds like a solution. Have to wait till Monday to get the install discs.

Thanks guys.

you're on 10.5.5, try a software update to 10.5.6 it should re-install it for you. should be the most hassle free option.
either do it from the apple menu or download it from apple's site.

you're on 10.5.5, try a software update to 10.5.6 it should re-install it for you. should be the most hassle free option.
either do it from the apple menu or download it from apple's site.

Thanks. Will I need to back up stuff - photos, music, word docs, etc.?

no need, it's just a software update innit. it's a whole package it'll update all the bits and rather likely there'll be a copy of system prefs there i think. just give it a go.

Every single time my macs played up googling has solved my problem

no need, it's just a software update innit. it's a whole package it'll update all the bits and rather likely there'll be a copy of system prefs there i think. just give it a go.

Then I shall do it, and on your head be it! ;)

check for dodgy files in the trash, if in doubt empty it out, i've had several issues in the past caused by dodgy files in the trash, soon as you empty it, issues solved.

Are you logging in as a guest account rather than as an admin? If you have multiple accounts set up on the machine you need to be logging into the Admin one to see the system prefs.

did you check to see if you accidently put the SP in the trash??

Only one account and have always been able to access System Prefs from it. I'm pretty sure it got deleted as part of my Xmas Spring clean (?!), so have downloaded v.10.5.6 - which gives me a different icon, but still can't open it - helpful, eh. Have also downloaded Pacifist and will try reloading from the original DVD tomorrow. Wish me luck...

Horatio - you're a star, it worked. I owe you a kiss.