System Preference has question mark
System Preference does not open and shows a "?" in the dock icon. It does not show up in Finder either.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Is it in the Apple menu in the far upper left corner?
11 replies
Yes. It is. However, when I click it, nothing happens. Also, when I first startup, the System Preference Icon in the Dock is void of the "?". Then I click it and the "?" shows up.
So it isn't in your Applications Folder either (that's what you meant when you said not in Finder)? I assume this is an older iMac due to your sig, and that you have used System Prefs before. Did it somehow get put in your trash can? If so, drag it back to the Applications Folder.
First, drag the ? mark straight up and off the Dock. It should go, "poof".
Launch System Preferences from your Applications folder.
When it loads you should see a new SP icon in the Dock.
Press and hold down the icon then click Option / Keep In Dock.
If that didn't help, the Dock preferences may be corrupted.
Go to ~/Library/Preferences.
Move the com.apple.dock.plist file from the Preferences folder to the Trash.
Restart your Mac.
Then try launching SP and saving the icon to the Dock.
~ (Tilde) character represents your Home folder
I think he is saying it isn't even in his Applications Folder. If it was, opening it from the Apple menu would have worked.
Thanks Dave.
It was a shot in the dark 😉
Maybe try opening from the Apple menu / Recent Items
Worse comes to worse, Michael can reinstall v10.6.
If it is gone from the Applications Folder none of this will work. Looks like he is headed for an archive and install or combo update. Unless it's in the trash.
One other outside chance is to run Software Update. It might find System Prefs is missing and download it for you. Ohterwise it's a system reinstall as suggested above.
I ran software update. My software is up to date. So this didn't work. Thanks!
When I click the Apple Icon "System Preferences" shows up.. When I click it though. Nothing happens. I do get the "?" mark over the System Preference Icon on the Dock. One item in Systems Preference that I used previously is "Parental Control". I can find it on the hard drive and I select it and try to launch, but nothing happens, either.
I am afraid that somehow my systems preferences became corrupt, or accidently got dumped to the trash and emptied.
This might mean a OS X reinstall. Which means that I have to backup everything on my hard drive. I do have some third party software that I might not be able to reinstall from my backup.
I appreciate all the help you all have provided. I was hoping that I could find an easy solution. Thanks to all! 🙂
A reinstall -- not erase and install -- in 10.6 should preserve your users, settings and all third party software. You then need to run the 10.6.8 Comboto get back.
System Preference has question mark