when i click on system preferences nothing happens. tried to reinstall os, but when i start up holding down C, it will not boot from CD. Think i threw out someting when i was cleaning up hard drive and now am lost as to how to fix it.

Mike H

Are you trying to access System Preferences from the Dock
or the Apple menu?

You may have accidently deleted the System Preferences
application itself, it should be located in your Applications
folder.

are you the admin of your system?

ask a question and you look like a idiot.
don´t ask and you stay an idiot

Take this from an apple tech.
reset open frimware by
holding down the apple key + option Key+ O+ F
at start up.
Then type, reset-nvram press return
then type, reset-all press return
Also try reseting the PMU or SMU, you can find insturctions on how to do this at www.apple.com/support then type in reset pmu for the computer you have.
then try booting to the os disk by holding down the c key. At this point you need to do an erase and install. If you cannot boot to the os disk 1, then the disk is bad or the logic board is bad. if your computer is less then a year old, call 1-800 my Apple, and buy an apple care protction plan, it will cost a couple of hund dollars but it will save you in the long run
PS, don't feel bad alot of people lose there sys perf folder.

jel

jel, why would it have anything to do with the firmware? that
seems very odd to me.

1) Throwing anything out of the HD will not
affect boot from CD.
2) You should be able to boot from CD no
matter what, but to ensure it's not a
problem with your CD/DVD, reset openfirmware
as above and pram.
3) remove your memory, reinstall 1 stick
only and try cd boot again.
If that don't work, try booting from another
OS CD if possible. Basically erradicate any
possible issues, like faulty optical drive
etc.

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