I am frustrated and not sure what the problem is. When I restart my iBook 500 (Dual USB) my system preferences are completely reset. The dock settings are reset, my desktop icons go back to 48x48, and many other settings are reset! Everything gets reset!! Even apps like iTunes. When I start it up, it acts like it is the very first time and wants to go through the "welcome and setup" procedures. My browser often get reset too. Weirdly enough, some settings aren't touched at all. Powersaving settings stay the same and the clock is correct. I am just very confused with what this could be. I do have the machine plugged-in constantly and am using it as a desktop station. Even when it is on battery power it will do this reset routine. HELP!!! Any suggestions or ideas for troubleshooting this problem is appreciated.

As a first step, try repairing permisions using the Disk Utility application in your Utilities folder. It's possible that, for some reason, you lost permissions on your preferences folder/files. Should this fail, you might try creating a new user account (in System Preferences) and seeing if that account can store preferences correctly.

What os r u using? 10.0? 10.1.x? 10.2.x? 10.3.x? there r problems associated with all these OSs depending on your os i can give you asolution but you need to tell me what os your running...ok? good...(ps if your running something under 10.1.3 that is your problem osx under10.1 was very faulty... if your running it you should upgrade which i garante will fix ur problem unless its simpler than all that... your ram could be faulty...e-mail me and tell me your exact system specs...Ram harddrive OS version and ibook model # (NOT SERIAL#) hope i can be of some help...