Can't access system preferences.

In article <BC8A3DD5.4B2F%mackpeterson@earthlink.net>,
Mack Peterson <mackpeterson RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote:

 > I'm new and ignorant, please bear with me. Just yesterday I inherited a G4
 > running 10.3.3 (have been happily using a G3 with os 9 for years) and I'm
 > excited to start messing around with it. I hooked it up up to the internet
 > and downloaded a few things... Everything was fine, but now when I start
 > it up I get the folder/question mark for a few seconds before it starts up.

Sounds like the startup disk is not set properly. It may be searching
for another disk for a bit before it finds one with a proper system
folder.

You should check the System Preferences-> Startup Disk.

 > The only thing that seems to be messed up is that the "Systems Preferences"
 > icon in the dock also has a question mark on it when I try to click on it.

This can mean that someone has moved or deleted the System Preferences
application, or that somehow the Dock has lost track of it. System
preferences should be in /Applications. If you open this folder you
should be able to start it up by double clicking on the application.

 > I can't access it through the apple menu either. The only thing I can think
 > of is maybe I threw the "system preferences" folder away accidently?
 > Anybody have a solution? Eternally grateful for any advice.
 >

If System preferences is actually in /Applications, you might try using
Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities) and try "repairing preferences."
That is always a good thing to try.

Finally: The startup disk can also be set, AFAIK, using "open-firmware".
See, e.g. <http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031119134803664>

--
James Meiss
<http://amath.colorado.edu/faculty/jdm><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can't access system preferences. 

In article <jdm-382A58.23313526032004 DeleteThis @peabody.colorado.edu>, James
Meiss <jdm DeleteThis @NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:

 > If System preferences is actually in /Applications, you might try using
 > Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities) and try "repairing preferences."

And if you can't find a way to repair preferences in Disk Utility, try
"Repair Permissions" instead.

--
Mark Davis
San Angelo, TX<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can't access system preferences. 

In article <270320040621151717%not@home.now>, Mark Davis <not.TakeThisOut@home.now>
wrote:

 > In article <jdm-382A58.23313526032004.TakeThisOut@peabody.colorado.edu>, James
 > Meiss <jdm.TakeThisOut@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:
 >
  > > If System preferences is actually in /Applications, you might try using
  > > Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities) and try "repairing preferences."
 >
 > And if you can't find a way to repair preferences in Disk Utility, try
 > "Repair Permissions" instead.

Whoops sorry!

--
James Meiss
<http://amath.colorado.edu/faculty/jdm><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can't access system preferences. 

In article <jdm-29C945.11324127032004 DeleteThis @peabody.colorado.edu>, James
Meiss <jdm DeleteThis @NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:

 > In article <270320040621151717%not@home.now>, Mark Davis <not DeleteThis @home.now>
 > wrote:
 >
  > > In article <jdm-382A58.23313526032004 DeleteThis @peabody.colorado.edu>, James
  > > Meiss <jdm DeleteThis @NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:
  > >
   > > > If System preferences is actually in /Applications, you might try using
   > > > Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities) and try "repairing preferences."
  > >
  > > And if you can't find a way to repair preferences in Disk Utility, try
  > > "Repair Permissions" instead.
 >
 > Whoops sorry!

Been following this (and other) threads, but can't figure this one out.
I'm using a G4 dual 1 gHz with 10.2.6. Everything seems fine except I
can't access any of the preferences (system, location, dock) that are
given under the Apple menu. I've got the System Preferences icon in the
dock, and can access from there OK - just not from the Apple menu.

I tried logging in under a different (test) account, and everything's
accessible fine from the Apple menu in that account, so it's something
with my account - that much I get. But from there, I am clueless; is
there a preference somewhere that's munged? I've looked in the various
preferences folders but, frankly, don't see anything as obvious as
"make.apple.menu.items.work.plist"...<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can't access system preferences. 

In article <160420042042254187%rpini@elfquest.com>,
Richard Pini <rpini RemoveThis @elfquest.com> wrote:

 > Been following this (and other) threads, but can't figure this one
 > out. I'm using a G4 dual 1 gHz with 10.2.6. Everything seems fine
 > except I can't access any of the preferences (system, location, dock)
 > that are given under the Apple menu. I've got the System Preferences
 > icon in the dock, and can access from there OK - just not from the
 > Apple menu.

Try upgrading to 10.2.8.

--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Vote for John Kerry.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can't access system preferences.