cant open any system preference windows

[jesumus]

Im having a little problem with my Macbook Black.
every time i try to open a system preference panel i get the following message

'There is no default application specified to open the document Accounts.prefPane'

this happens even when i try to load other preference panels. I only bought the macbook last week from some one and i dont know what they have done or if there is any way to fix this issue.

thanks

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

Start with resetting the LaunchServices database.
Launch the Terminal.app in /Applications/Utilities/, copy & paste this one-liner into the window that pops up, hit the return key, and when you get a new prompt, quit the Terminal app and restart:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Question : which OS are you running ?

 

[jesumus]

I'm currently running Snow Leopard

----------

All i get back from Terminal after i hit enter is
'ThrottleProcessIO: throttling disk i/o' ??

 

[Bruno09]

Which version ? 10.6.8 ?

Anyway, the command above is the right one (just checked the path on my Snow Leopard partition).

 

[jesumus]

yes, 10.6.8.
just did a restart and now when I search for preferences using Spotlight I just get a folder open up in a finder window...

 

[Bruno09]

Try this (in an admin account) :

sudo /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Type your admin password when prompted (won't display), then hit Enter, then reboot.


Just seen your last message : do you still have the "System Preferences" app in your Applications folder ?

 

[jesumus]

did as instructed and still the same.
And no, its no there. If i do a clean install with a Snow Leopard disk will this resolve the issue?

 

[Bruno09]

Yes of course a clean install of SL will solve the problem.

However, you'll need to :

- backup all your data (Time Machine, clone)
- erase your Macintosh HD partition
- install SL
- upgrade to 10.6.8 via the Combo update
- run Software Update for security updates
- migrate all your stuff

This is a lot of work...

You can also re-install the system without wiping out the disk and without losing your data, apps, settings.

Before you do this :

- have you any idea of what created the problem ?

- do you have a Time Machine backup ? If yes, restore System Preferences.app from it.
- or try using this one (from my SL 10.6.8) :
https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads/4710cf4af270896edcb74509b4471b8420140506163201/09f77a

Unzip the download and place it in your Applications folder.

 

[jesumus]

Thnaks for the download link, all working fine now.

Thanks again