Preferences Error: Could not load Sharing preference pane.

Thanks for responding. Glad I'm not the only one with this problem.

I notice a folder in System>Library>PreferencePanes folder called "SharingPref.tempSave". Not sure if you have the same. It contains a similar (but not identical) set of files that are contained within the SharingPref.prefPane package file. Do you have the same?

Its the only '.tempSave' folder in that directory - which makes me a bit suspicious.

Hopefully someone out there will be able to help.

Now the plot thickens...

I notice that the version number of my 'SharingPref.prefPane' file is 1.3.1 (dated late 2006). This is odd - since I installed Leopard initially as a clean install (drive erased and formatted before installing). I did experience some instabilities a few days after this clean install, so I then reinstalled, but the second installation was an 'Archive and Install'. I cant see how a file dated 2006 managed to get into the system.

When I checked the 'Previous Systems' folder created by by the 'Archive and Install' process, the SharingPref.prefPane' file is version 3.0 (dated 27/09/07).

So this seems to be indicating the possible problem - the 'new' SharingPref.prefPane' file is version 1.3.1 whilst the previous system is version 3.0.

Is your version of the SharingPref.prefPane' file version 1.3.1 or 3.0?

Bizarre. I'll investigate further. Any contributions or advice warmly welcomed!

Can anyone share any light on this?

Ok.

As much as I hate moving System files around, the following resolved this problem:

I copied the version 3.0 'Sharingpref.prefpane' file from my 'Previous Systems' folder into the current system (Location: Hard Disk>System>Library>PreferencePanes), replacing the old version 1.3.1 'Sharingpref.prefpane' file (which I am still puzzled how it got there...)

Rebooted and now I can open the 'Sharing' preference panel from 'System Preferences'.

Fixed.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Cheers,

Ian

PS - Repair permissions (using Disk Utility) after moving the version 3.0 'Sharingpref.prefPane' file to the System>Library>PreferencePanes folder.