preference to have Safari launch with previously open webpages...

Safari > Preferences > General > Safari opens with: Chose "All Windows from last session" from the drop down menu.

You are the second person I've run into with this problem. The only thing I can think of to do is to Reinstall 10.8.2 using the combo update from here. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1581

I don't have the problem so I can't test the solution.

Good Luck

Let us know if this resolves the problem.

You don't need to. Just download and install the combo update I linked in my reply.

There really shouldn't be but sometimes the combo update resolves problems like this.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4567?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

I am out of ideas. Since you marked this thread as solved it is going to get passed over by some of the best helper's. My best advice is to start a new post and include a link to this thread in your new thread so other helper's will know what you have done up to now. Don't mark it as solved until you get a satisfactory resolution to the problem. Like i said in a previous reply this is the second post I've seen like yours including the screenshot that is definitely missing the "Safari opens with" field. I'm stumped but someone will come along with a solution or an explanation of this phenomena. Sorry I couldn't help but please post again, as you will be doing the community a favor.

That new Safari preference only appears if you have 'Close windows when quitting an application' checked in System Preferences>General.

If you do 'close windows when quitting an application', then allowing Safari to reopen its windows is a useful option. If you don't 'close windows when quitting an application', then Safari windows should reopen automatically anyway on launch so you don't need the extra preference setting.

This is what I've found, Sorry so long...but maybe this will help?

If running OS X 10.8.2 and Safari 6.0.1, to open new Windows or to reopen last Windows/Tabs for next session,

Instead, Open System Preferences (NOT Safari Preferences) > General > (Uncheck or Check) Close Windows When Quitting an Application. (Keep in mind this option affects all applications). If necessary adjust > Recent items # pop down (none-50): Documents, apps, and Servers.* Also, may need to re-adjust each application's preferences if needed.

Every Now and Then, you may need to re-open one or all windows from the last session of Documents, Apps, or Servers you may be working on. There are permanent and temporary fixes depending on your preferences. Normally, If you close out these apps or documents while their windows are still open on the screen, they will re-open the last session where you left off the next time they are launched, UNLESS you CHECK to Close Windows When Quitting an Application. When this is checked under General System Preferences, then next time an app launches, It's Application's Preferences kick in and tell the window that opens for the app what to do, for example when opening Safari, if a New window is to open (per Safari's Preferences > General) instead of reopening all windows from last session, then the new window or tab will open with the designated preferences i.e. Homepage, Top Sites, etc. you have adjusted prior o opening.

However, Let's say you need to log out, shut down, and re-open last session of windows in Safari (as mentioned in this thread) at a later time, then keeping the option CHECKED in System Preferences > General> Close Windows When Quitting an Application is still recommended. You do not need to change this option each time you need to re-open windows, especially if you use last sessions of windows rarely.

Some users simply close in and out of Apps constantly without ever logging out from their User Name. If you do this, then each time you open an App like Safari, based on CHECKING the Close Windows When Quitting an Application in System Preferences, then the app will close and then open a new window such as Homepage based on preference settings. If you have these settings set as mentioned, but need to re-open all windows from last session then simply go to Safari Menu Bar > History > Reopen All Windows from Last Session.

However, if you log off User Name and you need certain windows to re-open next time launched, then before logging off, close unwanted windows while their screens are open from Documents, Apps, and Servers leaving open only those needed for next time logging in to User Name. When logging off: Apple Menu > (Click) Log Out (User Name) > A Window Pops-Up with an option to Re-open Windows on the Next Session. Check this option before the counter runs down to ensure windows will re-open during your next session, regardless, if System Preferences > General > Close Windows When Quitting an Application is CHECKED. This gives you a temporary override for next sessions of windows to reopen with changing system preferences.

Otherwise, if System Preferences > General > Close Windows When Quitting an Application is NOT CHECKED, then each time you log in and out or open and close apps, windows will reopen last session where left off automatically, whether or not you check the pop up window that appears when logging out of User Name to Reopen Windows for the Next Session.

*Adjusting Recent items # of Documents, Apps, and Servers can affect # of windows opening during next session, can clear out recent history each time its changed, and populates how many recent items will be listed in a given time under different menus like:

Apple Menu > Recent item > or

Safari Menu Bar > History > Reopen All Windows from Last Session or

Safari Toolbar > History Tab

Safari Toolbar > Bookmarks Tab (Toggles Show All Bookmarks) > History, etc.

SIDE NOTE: Don't to log out of User Name from time to time to refresh and reboot. Just like people, CPU's get confused and may work slower when too much change is happening and too many items or apps are open at once causing high CPU usage and over heating. Like people CPU's need to rest or need a reboot. Take that into considerations. Always back up before making changes and reboot or restart to ensure everything is working properly. Resetting certain elements of Safari helps also.

this solved my problem. thanks