Could not load Desktop and Screen Saver preference pane.

Hey Dominic23 -

If you still have this issue, here's good news! I had the same problem even after upgrading to Yosemite 2X's... always could not open the Desktop pane in System Preferences but would only display a Preferences Error window.

Here's the fix:

1) Close all windows & apps

2) Go to the System Library by selecting Finder, the hold the Option Key, then click on the Go tab at the top

3) Open the Application Support folder

4) Open the Dock folder

5) You should see desktoppicture.db in the Dock folder

6) Drag the desktoppicture.db to Trash

7) Reboot and you should be Good-To-Go

Enjoy...

Hey jpope42 -

If you still have this issue, here's good news! I had the same problem even after upgrading to Yosemite 2X's... always could not open the Desktop pane in System Preferences but would only display a Preferences Error window.

Here's the fix:

1) Close all windows & apps

2) Go to the System Library by selecting Finder, the hold the Option Key, then click on the Go tab at the top

3) Open the Application Support folder

4) Open the Dock folder

5) You should see desktoppicture.db in the Dock folder

6) Drag the desktoppicture.db to Trash

7) Reboot and you should be Good-To-Go

Enjoy...

Thanks for that Neil.

Worked perfectly. I

have the control of my monitor prefs back. And my desktop image ;-)

Thanks Neil, problem solved.

OK so I have this problem with not just desktop/screen saver but also with time machine preferences, general, and possibly others. I just haven't tried it yet. Is there a fix for basically the whole system preferences pane?

Hi neilfrombellevue Ihave the same exact issue as everyone else but your fix did not work for me. Any other suggestions?

Disregard what I said earlier. When I tried a third time, it worked. Thank you so much for the help.

I followed your instructions. Didn't help.

As I've told you. It doesn't work for me. Installed Yosemite over Mavericks 10.9.5. Yosemite works perfectly except for the mentioned pref pane. Hopefully 10.10.1 update solves the problem. Your solution doesn't work for me. Tiresom.

Took MetalSKG three tries to get it to stick. Good luck fixing it. I know how bloody annoying it is!

All I know is it worked for me first time around

God Bless you... this really solved my problem... what have I not tried...

Tried that with no luck. mac mini mid 2010, OS X Yosemite. Want to be able to change my desktop wallpaper...

actually I tried another fix by Neil and it worked.

Here's the fix:

1) Close all windows & apps

2) Go to the System Library by selecting Finder, the hold the Option Key, then click on the Go tab at the top

3) Open the Application Support folder

4) Open the Dock folder

5) You should see desktoppicture.db in the Dock folder

6) Drag the desktoppicture.db to Trash

7) Reboot and you should be Good-To-Go

Hi Neil

This still sadly does not seem to work for me - have tried it 10+ times now. Do you know of any other potential solutions - I've attempted all other various ones from around the forums...

This worked for the Time Machine Preferences.

Thanks for the post!