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How to reinstall System Preferences Application?

I was updating my desktop picture using System Preferences and system froze. I, then selected Force Quit which stopped the application.

Now, every time I try to access this application, I return to the frozen screen and I am not able to use any options on System Preferences,

even after restarting the MacBook Air.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Oct 26, 2011 6:50 PM

Reply
14 replies

Oct 26, 2011 7:34 PM in response to ricardoLB

Linc, thanks for your help.


Here is what I get from the console after clearing and running System Preferences


10/26/11 9:27:28.796 PM SafariDAVClient: ServerNotifications: Setting delegate to APSD

10/26/11 9:27:29.474 PM SafariDAVClient: Subscription request completed

10/26/11 9:28:43.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:28:48.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:28:48.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:29:01.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:29:01.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:29:01.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:29:01.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:29:01.000 PM kernel: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

10/26/11 9:30:39.849 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:39.856 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:39.860 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.018 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.143 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.177 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.194 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.292 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.303 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

10/26/11 9:30:40.305 PM System Preferences: Couldn't find PictureValueImagePath, trying to resolve the AliasHandle

Oct 26, 2011 7:51 PM in response to ricardoLB

In the Finder, hold down the option key and select Go > Library from the menu bar. From the folder that opens, move the following items to the Desktop:


Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist

Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.blah-blah-blah.plist

Try again to launch System Preferences. If it still won't open, you can put those files back where they came from, replacing the newer ones that may have been created.

Jul 31, 2015 4:32 AM in response to Linc Davis

Hi,

I'm having a similar problem, my System Preferences is not opening since I updated to OSX Yosemite 10.10.4, I get the message "the application system preferences is not open anymore".


When I go to Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences > I don't see

Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist

Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist


Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.blah-blah-blah.plist


The only one I have that is close is

Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemprefs.plist

but when I move that to my desktop it doesn't resolve the problem.


Do you have any other suggestions please?


How to reinstall System Preferences Application?

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