Users & Groups Missing from System Preferences

Question

Level 1

8 points

Users & Groups Missing from System Preferences

Hello,

I'm missing Users & Groups from System Preferences from my MacBook Pro which is running Lion Mac OS X 10.7.2. My original issue was that System Preferences would not open. It would open quickly with a blank window and then close. I deleted the System Preferences cache folder and rebooted. System Preferences opened and everything is there except for Users & Groups.

I tried opening Users & Groups through the help center but received this error message: "This item cannot be opened. It may be disabled or not installed. 2 param error." Is there anyway to re-enable this? Or is there a way to set the MacBook Pro back to factory default? Unfortunately I don't have the media to reinstall the OS so I'm hoping there is a quick resolution.

Thanks,

Vijay

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Dec 23, 2011 7:43 AM

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Answer 1

gandalf007 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 23, 2011 8:41 AM in response to Zyriab

I don't see the com.apple.systempreferences or com.apple.preferencepanes.cache. I searched the hard drive but came up with nothing.

I checked another MacBook Pro my company has and I cannot find these files on that system either so maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. Through Finder I selected go to folder and typed in administrator/library/caches and there is no folder. Also went through the users folder and didn't see anything.

I did find Library/Caches on root of the drive and also in the System folder but none of the aforementioned files.

Sorry, I'm a newbie when it comes to working with Macs at the corporate level. I may have to just reset to factory settings but luckily won't lose any data.

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Answer 2

Zyriab

Level 4

3,344 points

Dec 23, 2011 8:16 AM in response to gandalf007

Close System Preferences. In Finder go to [username]/Library/Caches/com.apple.systempreferences - move the file Cache.db to the trash. Restart System Preferences.

If this doesn't work then in [username]/Library/Caches/ move com.apple.preferencepanes.cache to the trash. Restart System Preferences.

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Answer 3

Zyriab

Level 4

3,344 points

Dec 23, 2011 8:55 AM in response to gandalf007

No, it's not in the root of the HD, it's the Library folder within your user space. In Finder select the account name you're logged in with from the left hand pane. Click the Go menu and then press the option/alt key. Library should then appear (it's hidden by default), select it and navigate as directed earlier.

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Answer 4

gandalf007 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 23, 2011 9:11 AM in response to Zyriab

Ah ok, didn't know it was hidden. I found the files and followed the steps but still didn't work. I thought maybe a reboot was in order after moving the files to trash. Upon reboot, it doesn't let me log into computer with my admin account or any account for that matter. I'll go ahead and do a factory reset. Thanks for all your help.

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Answer 5

gandalf007 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 27, 2011 9:01 AM in response to gandalf007

I ended up reinstalling Lion.

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Answer 6

Zyriab

Level 4

3,344 points

Dec 23, 2011 7:47 AM in response to gandalf007

In System Preferences click on the View menu and select Customize. Make sure that you haven't set that item to be hidden.

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Answer 7

gandalf007 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 23, 2011 8:06 AM in response to Zyriab

I checked, it's not hidden. It doesn't even show up as an option.

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Answer 8

gandalf007 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 23, 2011 9:35 AM in response to gandalf007

Actually, I did a repair permissions and I was able to log back in with the admin account but not with any other account. Any other ideas of how to get the Users & Groups back?

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Answer 9

Zyriab

Level 4

3,344 points

Dec 23, 2011 11:01 AM in response to gandalf007

Is the Users & Groups missing in every account you log in with or just in the admin account?

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Answer 10

gandalf007 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 27, 2011 6:20 AM in response to Zyriab

It's missing from the administrator account. It doesn't allow me to log on with any other account.

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