System Preferences pane opens off-screen

Question

Level 1

8 points

System Preferences pane opens off-screen

What can I do to have the system preferences panel open in the center of the screen instead of off the screen?

Whether I open it by Apple->System Preferences or open any other module within System Preferences (such as Network Preferences) it opens in the lower left-hand corner with 80% of the window off the screen. Then I have to drag it back to the center to use it.

I used to have dual-monitors, but now only use the laptop screen.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 17, 2009 7:08 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 17, 2009 8:18 AM in response to MattParr

HI Matt,

The only way I've been able to do this is to make sure the System Preferences panel is in the center of the desktop when I Quit System Preferences. Then when you re-open it, it should be centered. I know what you mean!

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

pullman

Level 4

1,220 points

Feb 17, 2009 8:22 AM in response to MattParr

Try trashing the file "com.apple.systempreferences.plist", which is in /Users/(your username)/library/preferences. Then restart your computer.

I'm wondering if it wouldn't help to use the Zoom function in the Window menu (or is there no such menu in Sys Prefs - I'm on a PC now so can't check). Or perhaps Exposé helps.

/p

Message was edited by: pullman

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Answer 3

MattParr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2009 11:09 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks for the suggestion. By "center of the desktop" do you mean the exact center? Of course to use the System Preferences panel, I move it generally to the center. After closing it and reopening it, it moves back to the same position off-screen.

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Answer 4

MattParr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2009 11:16 AM in response to pullman

I deleted "com.apple.systempreferences.plist" and immediately restarted the computer. When it booted back up, I checked and the file was still gone. I loaded System Preferences which created the file again, but the window still opened in the same place, off-screen.

There is no Window->Zoom feature on System Preferences. I don't have any problem selecting the window with the mouse and dragging it to the center.

How would Exposé help?

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Answer 5

MattParr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2009 11:19 AM in response to MattParr

As an additional piece of info, I created another user account and logged in. Opening up System Preferences comes up in the center of the screen like I'd expect. So this problem is not system-wide, just for one user.

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Answer 6

Feb 17, 2009 11:44 AM in response to MattParr

The position you have the System Prefs on your screen when you close it should be stored in the plist file.

/Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

Thus, if you trash the plist it really ought to be created with the default position, but even that shouldn't actually be necessary: when you move System Prefs window to where you want and close it the new position should be recorded in the plist and used next time you open it.

The only thing I can think of is perhaps something is funky in the way your account is considering the dispaly. Launch the Displays preferences and try clicking the "Gather Windows" button and the "Detect Displays" button, check that Rotate is Standard, and also check the Arrangement tab to make sure it shows one display with the menu bar.
Francine

Francine
Schwieder

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Answer 7

MattParr Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2009 12:23 PM in response to Francine Schwieder

I agree that it has something to do with the display. For good measure, I moved ALL the pref files from ~/Library/Preferences and logged out. Upon logging back in, of course everything went back to the defaults. The System Preferences now acts like you have described. Then I moved my plist files back and logged out (to get most of my settings back. Then I logged in and the System Preferences works normally.

Any thoughts on which plist file was causing the issue?

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Answer 8

Feb 17, 2009 12:43 PM in response to MattParr

Might not have been a plist file at all, but something else altogether. I have noticed that display settings sometimes seem to be "remembered" and used on boot up, before your own stuff even loads. Also, the Finder can sometimes be a sluggard about applying changes to its behavior. So no telling what the hang-up was. Just be glad it is back to normal!
Francine

Francine
Schwieder

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