Duplicate System preference Icon

[Trekker24689]

HI

On my dads iMac running Lion he accidentally made 2 copies of the system Preference Icon/app in the applications folder. There are 3 in all, 1 in the applications which is correct and 2 on the desktop. How can he delete the duplicates as when i put them in the trash and empty it i get a message saying that that system preference is in use and cannot delete.

I just want to delete the 2 duplicates and keep the one in the applications folder.

Many thanks

Keith

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

AFAIK, it is not possible do have 2 icons of the same application in the Dock.

Maybe, one of the two is an alias icon.

Have a look at the bottom left corner of the icon.
If there is a small arrow, this is an alias.

If you want to delete these icons : right click the icon / Options / Remove from Dock

 

[Trekker24689]

HI Bruno

Thanks for the reply.

they are not in the dock just on the desktop. They both are not an alias as has no arrow and both files are 4.6mb which is the same size as the one in applications.

 

[Bruno09]

So they are copies of the System Preferences app ??

I have tested, copied the app to the desktop, and was able to trash the copy and empty the Trash.

Of course if the app is running you can not trash it.
You need to quit the app if it is launched before trashing it.
(check the icon in the Dock, quit the app : right click / Quit).

 

[Trekker24689]

Thanks,

Stupid me i never thought about rebooting or logging off. Didn't know it could run in the background as thought it stopped when you came out of system preferences.

I logged off and back nonagon and was able to delete the trash.

Novice error and simple solution.

Thanks again all sorted

Keith