I've got "Preference Error: Could not load Users

This worked for me as well. Thanks!

I still have a bit of a situation though. I have been able to delete all the extra guest accounts, but I am left with the ordinary guest account enabled. Even though I have disabled it, it just won't go away. How can I fix this???

I still have a bit of a situation though. I have been able to delete all the extra guest accounts, but I am left with the ordinary guest account enabled. Even though I have disabled it, it just won't go away. How can I fix this???

Hi there.

I have this problem now for more than two months working with the second "non admin" account.

Your solutions did not help me cause:

1. When i try to open system pref and users and groups the error "Error in the system preferences, can not open user and groups" (i try to translate it from german into english) appears. It does not matter if i am doing this with admin, guest or any account, i can not open this anywhere.

2. i use lion 10.7.3 and this was there since 10.7.2. i was reading that i have to erase some files, guest 1 and 2 through the user utility, but like you said i have to go to the "users and groups" button to open up this utitlity - and this does not work for me.

3. i had 5 guest accounts in my users library. i erased them all, nothing changed.

4. in another board they told me to go to: com.apple.systempreferences.pref, or like david wrote:

I used Directory Utility (/System/Library/Core Services/Directory Utility) to delete two extra Guest accounts ("Guest1" and "Guest2"). After deleting those two records I could open the Users & Groups System Preference Pane. - i can not use directory utitly cause i can not open it on lion - or is there any other solution?! None of the files that were listed in other forums are available on my harddrive. no .plist file that maches, no directory utility folder, nothing. So i can not erase things that are not there.

5. Also narin1314 did not help, cause i can not open the user and groups button, the error appears in all accounts. --> @fperezlandaeta and epicdowtownpranks, first log on to guest arount/ users and groups preferences/ logon options/ at the bottom you need to unlock with your admin user name and password/ after unlock/ network account server: click Join.../ click open directory utility/ one the top you will see directory editor click it/ at the right corner you will see ( Authenticated as ...) click and unlock it ur admin user and password/ now in the list record scroll down and find (user or user 1) and highlight it then bottom you see the + and - sign click on - to delete it. restart your computer. go back to check your user and groups preferences. now should work or your admin account. good luck guys

No matter what i do, it does not work. I am so sick of this, and this is my first apple.

Mostereddie -

When I removed the Guest accounts - I had to exit the System Preferences and boot the OS. Then it fixed my problem.

Can you try this?

I would, but HOW CAN I ERASE anything? I just erased the 5 GUEST 1-5 Folders in the Finder.

Located in Imac/Main HD/Users

there were following folders:

For all Users

monstereddie

Adminaccont

Guest 1

Guest 2

Guest 3

Guest 4

Guest 5

The Guest is what i erased. That´s it.

Any ideas?

I did the same as you, nothing changed. 😢

monstereddit - when you say "You did the same as me" - HOW did you remove the Guest accounts? With Finder or as recommended here in these posts?

David wrote:

I used Directory Utility (/System/Library/Core Services/Directory Utility) to delete two extra Guest accounts ("Guest1" and "Guest2").

After deleting those two records I could open the Users & Groups System Preference Pane.

Did you do it this way or just delete folders in Finder?

hey

I have the same problem. In any account, when I try to open Users & Groups Preferences, it says Could not load Useres & Groups Preferences.

I want to try what seemed to work for lots of people, what David said. I just dont understand it. I cannot find Directory Utility. Someone esle said to log on to the guest user account and then in the useres and groups preferences delete the guest user accounts. But the problem is that I cannot access the Users and Groups preferences. What do I do??

TIA

Tony

Hey,

I am having the same issue.

The only annoying thing is that i dont have any Guest accounts on my local directory. I have checked in Directory Utility and also in dscl and none exist.

Any ideas??

Sauly

I dont know what exactly you were looking for in the Directory Utility (what name), but I had guest accounts that weren't called guest or anything like. I had somehow renamed them. Maybe you did the same thing? You might want to go through that list of all useres in the Utility and look for names that sound familiar. Sorry thats all I can say.

Thanks A Lot David

It helped me a LOT!

Thanks, this seems to have solvede it except that I started Directory utility on command line. Thanks guys, I just had the problems and you've saved me from hours (or possibly days) of figuring it out myself.

Works for me, 3.

Purchased a new MacBook Air yesterday and logged into the guest account to check it out. Today I realised I can no longer access user settings (i.e. same problem as others above).

Just followed David's instructions, now fixed.

David L. Huxtable wrote:

I used Directory Utility (/System/Library/Core Services/Directory Utility) to delete two extra Guest accounts ("Guest1" and "Guest2").

After deleting those two records I could open the Users & Groups System Preference Pane.

Cheers David!