OS Mountain Lion doesn't have desktop & wallpaper

[NewGuyHere]

Hey guys, so I upgraded my laptop to OS mountain lion from my previous lion os about a month ago. Recently I noticed that my system preferences is missing the DESKTOP & WALLPAPER setting icon. I was wondering if that is the same for everyone else. Thanks.

 

[mrsir2009]

I've got a 'Desktop & Screensaver' setting icon. That is weird indeed.

 

[AirThis]

edit: never mind

 

[NewGuyHere]

can someone else hlep me find out what is wrong?

 

[Charcoalwerks]

can someone else hlep me find out what is wrong?

Go to System Preferences > View. Do you see it in the drop down menu??

 

[NewGuyHere]

No, it is not there

 

[pgiguere1]

I would guess your ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist file is corrupted.

Delete this file, OS X will automatically recreate it with default values next time you open System Preferences.

If you're afraid to delete it just move it somewhere else.

 

[T5BRICK]

I'd be contacting Apple support right about now.

Otherwise, have you tried a clean install? I bet that'd fix it.

 

[NewGuyHere]

Okay I deleted it and it still didn't show up when I put it opened it up again.

 

[Charcoalwerks]

I think you need to find this folder (com.apple.preferencepanes.cache) Throw it in the trash and reopen System Preferences.

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I think you need to find this folder (com.apple.preferencepanes.cache) Throw it in the trash and reopen System Preferences.

Or try a clean re-install.

 

[NewGuyHere]

How should I find it? Where is it?

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I will probably do a reinstall, but about all my programs I have installed, will I have to redownload them or does OS X automatically back them up, sorry I am not very good with macs.

 

[Charcoalwerks]

How should I find it? Where is it?

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I will probably do a reinstall, but about all my programs I have installed, will I have to redownload them or does OS X automatically back them up, sorry I am not very good with macs.

Finder, choose Go, Go to folder, type ~/Library/Caches hit Go and it's in there.

 

[NewGuyHere]

Not there?

 

[bluespaceoddity]

Not there?

You're in a different Library.
Make sure that there is a Tilde ~ before the first / when you type or Copy and Paste it into the Go to Folder Box.

~/Library/Caches

The Tilde indicates your Home folder, where the Library you need resides. (This Library is hidden from view these days)

 

[NewGuyHere]

Okay, the problem is still there. The deleting of that file didn't fix it!

 

[T5BRICK]

As a quick test, create a second user account, go into system preferences on the new user account. Is it there?