I click on system preferences and before I can click on any of the icons, the window disappears. I've updated, did an adware removal, and the System Preferences icon box stays up only for a couple of seconds. Any ideas to resolve this issue?
iMac 27″, macOS 10.15
OK, if that doesn't help...
See if you can create a new administrator account by restarting the Setup Assistant:
Be very careful to notice the spaces in those Terminal Commands.
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine, except all your data will stile there. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
OK, if that doesn't help...
See if you can create a new administrator account by restarting the Setup Assistant:
Be very careful to notice the spaces in those Terminal Commands.
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine, except all your data will stile there. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
Hmmm, is ~/Library/Preferences showing in theFinder?
After you trash that file Restart the Computer.
I'm sorry. I couldn't follow your instructions as to what to delete. I did Method 1, but then what? I did not see: restart...~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist. Thank you for helping me thus far.
Thank you for the diagram. I was able to navigate to the file (com.apple.systempreferences.plist) and moved it to the trash. I restarted the computer, and brought up System Preferences several times, each time disappearing after 3-7 seconds. I also noted that there was 1 update needed, so I brought up that dialogue box and it also disappeared within 2-3 seconds before I could initiate the update.
I brought up System Preferences (it took 2 tries because the first time Sys Pref disappeared before I could click on Users and Groups) and quickly clicked on Users and Groups, and before I could unlock the Lock, the dialogue box disappeared. I had an Admin account on this iMac, but it doesn't show up anymore. On the login page, there was one user and a login for Other User, and when I put in the Admin name and password, the Mac wouldn't accept it. So, I followed your instructions and brought up macOS recovery and am installing the latest macOS. Let's see how that does. Again, thanks for your prompt response and help.
Install is now finished. Same thing - Sys Pref stays up for 3-10 seconds and disappears. If I can move quickly enough I can click on Users and Groups, then click on the lock, the Password request comes up next and before I can enter the password, all boxes disappear. Is it Catalina OS that is causing the problem? Should I be going back to an earlier OS somehow, or should I just wait until Big Sur is finalized? Could an application cause these problems?
I'm back at it. Am doing the macOS Recovery again. I'll get back to you after the install completes. Thank you.
Note, when I clicked on Share in EtreCheck, then More, the dialogue box crashed after only a few seconds just like Sys Pref.
Try just clicking in the Report in the bottom of the left column, CMD+a to Select All, CMD+c to copy, then paste in the more text icon before you hit Post...
I started up the iMac in safe mode, then restarted the iMac normally, and I had the same problem with System Preferences. (Being new to the forum, I believe I clicked on the wrong button in the email I received, indicating the issue was resolved when it wasn't. Sorry.)
Delete this file ^restart...
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
~ tilde indicates hidden Home Library.
Apple hid the Users' Library folders...
Method 1:
To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...
Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.
Does it work in the new account?
If that doesn't work I think it's time to try Reinstalling the OS...
Start up from macOS Recovery
To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold...
Command (⌘)+R keys
Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.
I re-installed the OS and there was no improvement. The Sys Pref stayed up long enough to click on Users and Groups, but that dialogue box disappeared as soon as I clicked on the lock. No improvement. I then booted into Single User Mode and followed your instructions the best I could - I will admit that coding is Greek to me. I tried and all it did was go back to the Login screen, no way to set up an Admin account. I don't know if I messed up anything in the Single User Mode by typing in what you gave me.
I must go and play a game with my son. I'll get back to you later.
I think we can figure it out if you can submit an etrecheck report...
EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info.
Pastebin is a good place to paste the whole report if you capture the URL while there…
Whew, they've changed pastebin & made it harder, but after pasting in, click Create new paste button, then Embed button, then copy the URL...
<script src="https://pastebin.com/embed_js/KuvnghqA"></script>
The important part is...
https://pastebin.com/embed_js/KuvnghqA
Workable but harder for me to work with...the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck. In a Reply before you click post, look for this to add longer texts...
System Preferences disappears
