screwed up system preferences

I am still trying to figure out how to use my MacBook Pro and I keep making things worse. I thought I was getting rid of duplicate files and accidentally dragged a "preferences panes" folder to the trash. When I tried to drag it back out it would not go back where it came from (sorry, i lack the terminology to id properly, there were 3 folders that all seemed the same). I could drag it to the desk top or dock. Now when i click the preferences icon it only contains the "personal" heading with the "dock" icon under it.

I tried going into time machine to restore the state of things prior to this blunder, but it didn't change anything with the preferences.

I use OSX 10.6.4, 2.26 GHz intel core 2 duo if that matters

please help!

Hi,

There are 2 preference pane folders:

1) YourUserAccount ~> Library ~> Preference Panes

2) MacintoshHD ~> Library ~> Preference Panes.

On my iMac, all my preference panes are stored in the latter location.

Normally if you want to uninstall a preference pane you launch System Preferences and in the "Other" section at the bottom of the window, you Ctrl-Click (Right-Click) on the pref pane you wish to uninstall and select "Remove ...... Pref Pane".

I gather you still have the Pref Panes in your System Preferences window, but that they don't work?

You mention 3 folders ... what folders are they?

If you try to return the folders to their original location, do you see any error messages? What are they?

You wrote:

Where are you clicking the preference icon?

thanks for your reply.This is what mine looks like:
1) YourUserAccount ~> Library ~> Preference Panes--> empty
2) MacintoshHD ~> Library ~> Preference Panes --> "dock icon" only
Below Preference panes folder is another folder titled "preferences" that has a long list of contents.

I wasn't trying to uninstall anything. Just an unfortunate lapse in sanity in trying to "clean up" what i thot were duplicate files

"I gather you still have the Pref Panes in your System Preferences window, but that they don't work?"
When i click the syst. pref icon the only pane that shows up is the dock icon

there were never any error messages, just limits in where i could drag it from the trash. It showed up as an icon looking like a page with "pref" & gear when i dragged it to desktop or dock. It would not drop back into the syst pref icon

My syst preference icon is on my dock

I honestly cant remember where i was when I found the 3 folders. Nothing with the name preferences is still in my trash, so it's got to be misplaced elsewhere, right?...maybe?...

I found the following suggestion on a different forum for someone whose pref. panes could not be found:

Quit System Preferences and delete these files:

Delete these files or folders then relaunch System Preferences.
Users/yourname/Library/Preferences /com.apple.systempreferences.plist
Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/By Host/com.apple.systempreferences.xxx.plist
and com.apple.PrefPane.Network.xxx.plist (the X's will be numbers)
Also, Users/yourname/Library/Caches
~~~~
There are almost 80 folders and item in Library/Caches many of which look like stuff I DON'T want to delete. unless they meant the com.apple.preferencepanes.cache inside the Caches folder?
Also, I looked for "com.apple.PrefPane.Network.xxx.plist" but can't find it in my list.

Anybody out there have any experience with this? If this isn't the solution could it make things worse? Do I back up with Time Machine before I try it, then restore to previous?

Thanks

My advice is not to go messing about in there .... just leave it alone for now until we sort this out.



Click for large view - Uploaded with Skitch

Above is a shot of my System Preferences ... showing all my Pref Panes (they are shown within the red triangle).

Can you upload a shot of your Sys Prefs window so I can see what we're dealing with. Do you have a flickr, imageshack or skitch account?

For now, don't go searching about in those important folders we will deal with the System Preferences.app for now.

Just so we're on the right track, the System Preferences icon in the Dock looks like this:



Click for large view - Uploaded with Skitch

yes, i'm in the right icon. I tried to attach a scree shot of what's there.

i don't have any of the accounts you mentioned. i'll try to add imageshack or skitch

Have a look here:

Recovering accidental deletion of system preferences; other utilities

101: Time Machine

Those missing preference aliases (they are aliases to files kept in your Macs System folder) can be located here:

MacintoshHD ~> System ~> Library ~> Preferences Panes

Here is what you should see at the above path:



Click for large view - Uploaded with Skitch

thanks for your help. I know i went back far enough in time machine, yet it didn't change anything. So here's my stupid question before I try it again-- how can i save documents that were created since the blunder if I restore to an earlier time?

MacintoshHD ~> System ~> Library ~> Preferences Panes looks like this:
https://skitch.com/abracadabra/ryy93...-at-1.13.08-am

Additional info:
one of the suggestions listed under "recovering accidental deletion...", had to do with non-functional system pref. and said to delete this file:
com.apple.systempreferences.plist that's located in the /username/Library/Preferences/ folder, then relaunch.

I tried to attach the contents using skitch but most of the items in Preferences folder were greyed out and i wasn't allow to select. Here's the beginning of a long list of "computereze". my apologies if this is not helpful.

bplist00fl"


!"#$%&'(-0@ABCPS$X[\_rUz{|@@É@ãåçêë_&NSNavBrowserPreferedColumnCont entWidth_NSNavLastRootDirectory_!NSNavPanelExpa ndedSizeForOpenMode_DefaultExposeTab_%com.apple .dtandsspref.lastselectedtab_NSTableView Columns _'NSSplitView Subview Frames DSKSplitView_4NSTableView Columns NSNavOutlineColumnSearchSettings_limitMail_bindk ey_9NSWindow Frame Main Window Frame SystemPreferencesApp 8.0_AppleOtherHighlightColor_1NSTableView Columns NSNavOutlineColumnSettings.v1_(com.apple.Preferen ceSync.ExcludeSyncKeys_NSTableView Sort Ordering _(com.apple.TimeMachine.OpenPanelDirectory_:NSTa bleView Sort Ordering NSNavOutlineColumnSearchSettings_NSWindow Frame Identity Picker_com.apple.preferences.sharing_Available Languages_;NSTableView Hidden Columns NSNavOutlineColumnSearchSettings[ShowAllMode_WorkspacesNavLastRootDirectory_NSW indow Frame DestinationSheet_7NSTableView Sort Ordering NSNavOutlineColumnSettings.v1_2NSOutlineView Items DSKSourceOfPicturesOutlineView_limitIChat_bindke y_2com.apple.preferences.accounts.outline.userspa rent_8NSTableView Hidden Columns NSNavOutlineColumnSettings.v1_limitMailOrIChat_b indkey^DHChooseScript_NSTableView Hidden Columns _!com.apple.preferences.energysaver_SecurityPre fTab_-com.apple.preference.keyboard.lastselectedtab#@g@

Your image only shows the path:

MacintoshHD ~> System ~> Library .... ??

That info may not be relevant for you as it is for System Prefs that don't launch ... your's are actually missing in action ... anyways, I'm still waiting to see the contents of:

MacintoshHD ~> System ~> Library ~> Preference Panes

Once I know what's in the folder and what's not there, we can continue ...