How can I fix my system preferences so the system preferences window don't freeze up every time I open it?

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Level 1

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How can I fix my system preferences so the system preferences window don't freeze up every time I open it?

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew how to fix a System Prefrences problem? Every time I try to open system prefrences I get that little color wheel over the System Prefrences window, and I am not able to change any system prefrence options or click on any options in the window. It just freezes up. I have iOS Lion 10.7.4 version on a 2012 Macbook Pro i7. Right now my screen saver is just a blank blue color, and I am unable to set any other photo from my photo library to the hpome screen picture even without going throiugh system prefrnces. I have tried Disk Utility>Verify Disk Permissions, and that did not work. I have also tried Disk Utility>Permissions Repair, and that did not work either. Can anyone tell me another option to try because I am unable to open Time Machine to repair to an earlier date because that window freezes up also. Does anyone know any other options? This Macbook Has been doing this sort of thing since I took it out of the box brand new 4 months ago, but it fixted itself before the Macbook help coverage was expired so I never bothered to call Apple about it. Now it just freezes up and never works, I can't change my system time out I cant change any system prefrences on my Macbook Pro. It really ***** bad. Also another symptom my macbook has right before this problem accours is my screen saver on my computer will automatically be swithched to that Galaxy screen saver all the sudden when I turn my computer on then when I go to change the screen save back to a picture I had on my computer the system prefrences just freeze up. Please let me know if you know what I can do. Thanks.

Also I am Unable to open Dock Preferences and i get the frozen screen color wheel Just like on System Preferences.

J

Message was edited by: skybluguy76

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), System Prefrences not working.

Posted on Jun 25, 2012 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

skybluguy76 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2012 4:03 PM in response to ds store

Actually it was "com.apple.desktop.plist" that needed to be deleted along with the com.apple.desktop.plist-locked file right below it. That was the actual corrupt file. After deleting that I then I rebooted the computer and everything works like brand new. Thanks to: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3616401 Grant Bennett-Alder. Thank you for the response though!

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Answer 2

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

Jun 25, 2012 2:00 PM in response to skybluguy76

Finder > Go > Go to Folder and paste this line and press Go!

~/Library/Preferences

A hidden folder window will open, scroll down until you see

com.systempreferences.plist

there will be two of them most likley, move the one you can to the Trash, reboot the computer.

Reset your System Preferences.

If you have any more problems, see this

Step by Step to fix your Mac

Next time you have a problem, come here right away.

You might not get a answer right away, but keep "bumping" up your post, someone will know the answer and come around eventually.

Good Luck. 🙂

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Jun 25, 2012 2:18 PM in response to skybluguy76

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.

Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Try the action again. Post any messages that appear in the Console window – the text, please, not a screenshot.

Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Edit it out by search-and-replace in a text editor before posting.

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