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Posted By: jaybass desktop background - 03/25/16 02:22 PM
OS 10.6.8 I don't know if this is the fight place for my problem. I tried to change the desktop background but the selections are no longer there. It's been a couple of years since I looked at them. How do I get them back anyone? jaybass

Posted By: jchuzi Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 03:19 PM
Does OS X Yosemite: Desktop preferences help? AFAIK, the procedure works for Snow Leopard as well.
Posted By: grelber Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 03:43 PM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
OS 10.6.8 ... I tried to change the desktop background but the selections are no longer there.

What exactly isn't there?!
Under System Preferences > Personal, is nothing under Desktop & Screen Saver?
Or under System Preferences > Personal > Desktop & Screen Saver, is nothing there?
Or in the latter there's nothing listed under Apple (eg, Desktop Pictures or Solid Colors) or Folders?

To save a little time: Use Spotlight or EasyFind to search for Desktop Pictures. If the folder shows up, then you've obviously got them; if not, then you've likely deleted it for some reason.

(I'm using Lion, but I think Snow Leopard should be similar if not the same.)
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 04:52 PM
There is no Desktop & Screen Saver icon in System Prefs. I wouldn't have knowingly deleted it. I do have HD>Library>Desktop Pictures and they are all there I assume (30) but how can I restore them to System Prefs...or can I? Failing that, how can I change the desktop background from the above location? Would a custom re-install be possible? jaybass
Posted By: jchuzi Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 05:19 PM
A custom reinstall might be possible if you use Pacifist to extract what you want. However, it might be simpler to use the 10.6 DVD to reinstall the system. You won't lose anything and the only downside is that you'll have to run Software Update to get anything that you might have missed from the installer. It's also possible (and probably easier) to download and install the Combo 10.6.8 updater. That might very well solve your problem.

Posted By: grelber Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 06:04 PM
Aha. Somehow you deselected Desktop & Screen Saver (to be shown when you open System Preferences), but you've still got it.

Easy solution:
Open System Preferences. Then go to View and select Customize ... .
You can then select what you want to see under System Preferences. Just check the appropriate boxes (of what you want to see when you open System Preferences) and click Done.
Voilà! Back in business.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 09:50 PM
Ah, if only your suggestion were that simple. When I open SP, there is no Customize under View. Thanks for your response. jaybass
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 09:56 PM
Jon, I have Pacifist, but I cannot find a way to drag that particular item into the window. I couldn't find such a file anywhere. That Combo 10.6.8 updater, would any of my apps be affected? Can you enlarge on that update? jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 10:28 PM
If you go the Pacifist route you'll have to reinstall System Prefs in its entirety; you should be able to navigate through the Pacifist hierarchy and find it, or you can search for it. (You can't drag & drop with Pacifist, so select "Install".)

Edit: I don't think it will change any of your prefs.

The 10.6.8 Combo shouldn't affect any apps other than by re-updating pre-installed Apple apps, and reinstalling it is a standard troubleshooting technique.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 10:30 PM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
Ah, if only your suggestion were that simple. When I open SP, there is no Customize under View. Thanks for your response. jaybass

Must be new...post-Snowy, which is why I was unaware of it until grelber mentioned it.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 10:45 PM
I wonder if it's coincidental or because you're running a legacy OS...Snowy, but this thread is unusual in that we don't get a hell of a lot of "classic" troubleshooting questions around here these days.
Posted By: freelance Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 11:02 PM
I have a Snow Leopard partition. There is no "customize" under View, but there is a "show all" option. But when you click on View, there should be a drop down menu showing all the available panes. If the pane is missing and you want to do a search, the actual name of the preference pane is: DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane

Maybe it was accidentally dragged out of the folder somehow?
Posted By: jchuzi Re: desktop background - 03/25/16 11:56 PM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
Jon, I have Pacifist, but I cannot find a way to drag that particular item into the window. I couldn't find such a file anywhere. That Combo 10.6.8 updater, would any of my apps be affected? Can you enlarge on that update? jaybass
As Artie said.
Posted By: grelber Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:01 AM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
Ah, if only your suggestion were that simple. When I open SP, there is no Customize under View. Thanks for your response. jaybass


OK. Try this as another possibility — it works in Lion and might also be available in Snow Leopard; the Missing Manual describes it as a "super-top-secret trick":

Open System Preferences. There should be a button labeled Show All. Clicking on it should show all preferences chosen. If you hold the Show All button down, a pop-up menu appears which has the command Customize at the bottom.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:02 AM
Edit: Updated in post #39675.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:05 AM
Okay, lets use pacifist and reinstall System Prefs in it's entirety...after opening Pacifist, where do I go from there? jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:06 AM
Originally Posted By: grelber
OK. Try this as another possibility — it works in Lion and might also be available in Snow Leopard; the Missing Manual describes it as a "super-top-secret trick":

Open System Preferences. There should be a button labeled Show All. Clicking on it should show all preferences chosen. If you hold the Show All button down, a pop-up menu appears which has the command Customize at the bottom.

No go... "Customize" takes you to the same pane as View > Customize.
Posted By: grelber Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:13 AM
Originally Posted By: artie505
Originally Posted By: grelber
OK. Try this as another possibility — it works in Lion and might also be available in Snow Leopard; the Missing Manual describes it as a "super-top-secret trick":
Open System Preferences. There should be a button labeled Show All. Clicking on it should show all preferences chosen. If you hold the Show All button down, a pop-up menu appears which has the command Customize at the bottom.

No go... "Customize" takes you to the same pane as View > Customize.

Too bad. So much for the easy fix. Maybe that's why they changed those bits in Lion. Customizing System Preferences is fast and slick.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:17 AM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
Okay, lets use pacifist and reinstall System Prefs in it's entirety...after opening Pacifist, where do I go from there? jaybass

Working from memory here, but I'll dig out my install disc if necessary...

The easiest way is to search (Edit: for System Preferences.app), but you may see many options because of languages, so you've got to be certain to select the"top level" option.

Working through the hierarchy can be hit or miss, but it's easy to see where you are, because it's the same file hierarchy you see on your screen, so you can just keep hitting disclosure triangles until you get to where you're going...

System Prefs will be in either the (I think this is correct.) "Base System" or "Essentials" (Edit: section of your install disc), so just hit (Edit: top level) disclosure triangles until you see "Applications", and then hit the next triangle until you see "System Preferences".

Select it and hit the "Install" button at top left, authenticate when asked, and the rest should happen automatically.

If you run into a snag, post back and I'll dig out my disc to see who went wrong where.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 12:19 AM
Originally Posted By: grelber
Customizing System Preferences is fast and slick.

I like the idea of being able to dispense with the many panes I don't use.

Score this one for Apple!

Thanks for the tip.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 01:43 AM
Oops! I just realized that you probably ought to run the 10.6.8 Combo after you reinstall, because stuff may (is likely to?) have changed between the version of OS X on your install disc and 10.6.8.

Edit: Updated in post #39675.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 02:10 AM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
OS 10.6.8 I don't know if this is the fight place for my problem. I tried to change the desktop background but the selections are no longer there. It's been a couple of years since I looked at them. How do I get them back anyone? jaybass

And one final - I hope - thought... Have you tried control-clicking on your desktop to see if you're offered a "Change Desktop Background" option?
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 06:06 AM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
Okay, lets use pacifist and reinstall System Prefs in it's entirety...after opening Pacifist, where do I go from there? jaybass

I wouldn't bother running the entire 10.6.8 Combo, because its effect on System Preferences is minimal.

Download the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 and open the .dmg in Pacifist.

I did the legwork and found that the highlighted item is the only entry in the entire package that affects System Prefs, so just select it, hit "Install", authenticate, and...voila!

Just to be sure that nothing gets overlooked, run Security Update 2013-004 (Snow Leopard) afterwards, and then Software update should offer you only the Mac App Store Update for OS X Snow Leopard if you haven't already installed it. (If it offers more, take it.)

Whew! I think that's finally it.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 03:11 PM
After I install, I'm told that I have SP 5.2 and it is incompatible with my present OSX. Also, when I click on SP, nothing shows on my desktop. The icon in the dock has also disappeared. Which version of SP do I need? Also, after I clicked install, I didn't see "authenticate" which I guess woundn't show anyway. I backed up first so I can always restore what I had. jaybass


Posted By: jchuzi Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 03:18 PM
At this point, it may be best to bite the bullet and reinstall the entire OS from the DVD. Sometimes, the nuclear approach is faster and easier than trying to troubleshoot. At least, that's what I would do.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 03:29 PM
My 10.6.8 installation has System Prefs v 7.0.

Is this after you've installed the segment from the Combo, or is the v 5.2 from your install disc?

(As I said, I was working from memory, so the "authenticate" part may have been a figment of same.)
Posted By: dkmarsh Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 04:36 PM

I'm not sure attempting to reinstall the System Preferences app was the most appropriate solution to try. The app is really just a front end for accessing individual preference panes, most of which are found in /System/Library/PreferencePanes/ and are presumably in a different location than the app in the installer package (though I don't have Pacifist and therefore can't confirm that).
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 04:38 PM
I have tried 3 different browsers trying to SP v 7.0 but I cannot find a site that allows it. How did you get yours? It seems that 5.2 is the only reason I cannot download SP. Perhaps if I go back to where I was, I can get the update from there?The 5.2 must have come with the disk. Jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 09:39 PM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
I have tried 3 different browsers trying to SP v 7.0 but I cannot find a site that allows it. How did you get yours? It seems that 5.2 is the only reason I cannot download SP. Perhaps if I go back to where I was, I can get the update from there?The 5.2 must have come with the disk. Jaybass

If you mean that you're looking to download System Prefs v 7.0 as a free-standing app you're dreaming the impossible dream; it can only be gotten via some Apple installer or other.

I got my v 7.0 in the normal course of business...presumably after I installed the 10.6.8 Combo, so I don't understand why you haven't got it if you've installed that segment.

I dunno... dkmarsh may be right(*), and it may be time to just bite the bullet and either reinstall or run the entire 10.6.8 Combo.

If you decide on the latter, here's what you'll need to run...in order:

Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

Safari 5.1.10 for Snow Leopard

Security Update 2013-004 (Snow Leopard)

Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard v1.1

Mac App Store Update for OS X Snow Leopard (Recent and may have been run already.)

Software update shouldn't offer you anything after they've been run, but if it does, install whatever comes up.

(*) This is what I've got in Snowy > System/Library/PreferencePanes; have you got all of them?

Accounts.prefPane
Appearance.prefPane
Bluetooth.prefPane
DateAndTime.prefPane
DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane
DigiHubDiscs.prefPane
Displays.prefPane
Dock.prefPane
EnergySaver.prefPane
Expose.prefPane
FibreChannel.prefPane
Ink.prefPane
Keyboard.prefPane
Localization.prefPane
Mac.prefPane
MobileMe.prefPane
Mouse.prefPane
Network.prefPane
ParentalControls.prefPane
PrintAndFax.prefPane
Security.prefPane
SharingPref.prefPane
SoftwareUpdate.prefPane
Sound.prefPane
Speech.prefPane
Spotlight.prefPane
StartupDisk.prefPane
TimeMachine.prefPane
Trackpad.prefPane
UniversalAccessPref.prefPane
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 09:43 PM
Originally Posted By: dkmarsh
The app is really just a front end for accessing individual preference panes, most of which are found in /System/Library/PreferencePanes/ and are presumably in a different location than the app in the installer package....

That's correct, and my bad for not having thought of it.

But it doesn't seem like the state of the individual pref panes behind the app should affect the app itself.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 11:07 PM
I have downloaded combo, security and SL is part of the combo right? However.
my Safari has changed from 5.1.10 to 5.0.5 Why would that happen? I tried to download the former but I cannot find a way. In pref panes, I have 29 items out of your 30. The missing one is Mac.prefPane and my son says it's only 4Kb. The problem now is that I cannot boot up from my external drive. I think I said when I click SP under the apple, NOTHING appears. Strangely enough, an icon for SP has appeared in the dock and in the apps but nothing happens when clicked and the icon is different from the usual one, pencil, brush & rule overlapping each other. Under the software apps, there are 2 SPs listed. One is 5.2 and the other has no version listed. In my apps, safari is showing as 5.0.5?? Q: Is there a way of booting up from one of my other drives? If I can do that, I can extract myself from this mess. I'm going to restart with the option key down and see where that goes. jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 11:52 PM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
I have downloaded combo, security and SL is part of the combo right? However.
my Safari has changed from 5.1.10 to 5.0.5 Why would that happen? I tried to download the former but I cannot find a way. In pref panes, I have 29 items out of your 30. The missing one is Mac.prefPane and my son says it's only 4Kb. The problem now is that I cannot boot up from my external drive. I think I said when I click SP under the apple, NOTHING appears. Strangely enough, an icon for SP has appeared in the dock and in the apps but nothing happens when clicked and the icon is different from the usual one, pencil, brush & rule overlapping each other. Under the software apps, there are 2 SPs listed. One is 5.2 and the other has no version listed. In my apps, safari is showing as 5.0.5?? Q: Is there a way of booting up from one of my other drives? If I can do that, I can extract myself from this mess. I'm going to restart with the option key down and see where that goes. jaybass
  1. I linked you to the Combo and 4 other downloads that you'd need to run after it in post #39683.
  2. I explained earlier (and subsequently edited it out) that running the 10.6.8 Combo would revert your Safari to an earlier version; one of the links in post #39683 is to Safari 5.1.10.
  3. The Mac.prefPane relates to Mobile Me; I don't know why you'd be missing it.
  4. The SP icon you described is what you see when you install an update to an app that doesn't exist, i.e. it's not a complete app, which is why it won't launch.
  5. I expect that your "no version" SP has the same icon as is in your Dock? It sounds like something got bollixed when you installed the SP update from the 10.6.8 Combo.
  6. The option boot should work.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 11:52 PM
The start up manager has solved my problems. I had not used it before but it's good to know. Everything is as it was. I did a backup before that combo download so I haven't lost anything. Thanks for all your effort. I appreciate it. jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/26/16 11:55 PM
Crossed in the mail.

Sounds like you're back to square one, though...the problem that inspired your original post, right?

Edit: Have you tried command-clicking on your desktop to see if you're offered a "Change Desktop Background" option, and if so, does it work?
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 01:05 AM
I just tried that Desktop click but no joy. I think I'll give it a pass considering the question, was it worth it? I do have all 30 icons in Desktop pictures. HD>library. Can they be used at all? jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 06:30 AM
First, I realized why you wound up with two different versions of SP: after you authenticated you were asked whether you wanted to overwrite your pre-existing version or install, and you instinctively chose "install", so rather than overwriting, i.e. updating, your pre-existing version you installed the update as a freestanding "app" alongside it, thus the partial-app icon. Sorry for not having guided you through that critical step.

I don't understand why your Safari reverted, though, unless you ran the entire Combo, in which case I don't understand why SP wasn't updated from v 5.2 in that step. confused

Quote:
I do have all 30 icons in Desktop pictures. HD>library. Can they be used at all?

I did some searching and came up with some possibilities:

1. This article refers to "iPhoto '11", but there may be a similar option in the version you're running, in which case you can import the 30 items in /Library/Desktop Pictures into iPhoto and take advantage of it.

2. This article from 2010 is old enough that the two viable options it offers may work:
  • How to Change Mac Desktop Background Picture to an Image File
  • Setting OS X Desktop Wallpaper from Pictures on the Web with Safari
And if you'd like to give rerunning the Combo another shot post back and I'll link you to what you need again.
Posted By: grelber Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 09:54 AM
This all seems to have gone down a rabbit hole ... confused

I still can't wrap my head around why, if the folder containing the relevant items but missing from the preference panes in System Preferences exists, it can't be simply (copied, if necessary, and then) dragged and dropped into the preference panes folder ... rather than the circuitous and ponderous route(s) so far suggested.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 10:50 AM
Originally Posted By: grelber
I still can't wrap my head around why, if the folder containing the relevant items but missing from the preference panes in System Preferences exists, it can't be simply (copied, if necessary, and then) dragged and dropped into the preference panes folder ... rather than the circuitous and ponderous route(s) so far suggested.

The "folder containing the relevant items" - /Library/Desktop Pictures - has nothing to do with jaybass's problem which is that the pref pane that accesses that folder's contents is missing from his System Prefs GUI. (Whether or not it still lives on his Mac hasn't been established.)

Edit: The definitely ponderous but in no way circuitous routes, nuke & pave included, that have been suggested so far are the only ones of which I'm aware that can be used to restore the missing whatever's missing.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 02:35 PM
I have just looked at SP under software apps. and there still 2 entries, 5.2 & 7.0 Why would that happen? When I click SP in apps, it is version 7.0! Thought I would let you know. jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 03:01 PM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
I have just looked at SP under software apps. and there still 2 entries, 5.2 & 7.0 Why would that happen? When I click SP in apps, it is version 7.0! Thought I would let you know. jaybass

Hmmm... Has v 5.2 got a regular System Prefs icon or is it the odd one you described earlier, and can you change your desktop background with v 7.0?
Posted By: grelber Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 05:20 PM
Originally Posted By: artie505
The "folder containing the relevant items" - /Library/Desktop Pictures - has nothing to do with jaybass's problem which is that the pref pane that accesses that folder's contents is missing from his System Prefs GUI. (Whether or not it still lives on his Mac hasn't been established.)

On my machine running Lion OS X 10.7.5 this is the route:
HD / System / Library / Preference Panes / DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane

So, if I understand you correctly, the last item no longer exists and needs to be reconstructed. Can one not search around and determine whether it (or what other essential) actually does still live on his Mac and proceed from there?
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/27/16 11:02 PM
Originally Posted By: grelber
Originally Posted By: artie505
The "folder containing the relevant items" - /Library/Desktop Pictures - has nothing to do with jaybass's problem which is that the pref pane that accesses that folder's contents is missing from his System Prefs GUI. (Whether or not it still lives on his Mac hasn't been established.)

On my machine running Lion OS X 10.7.5 this is the route:
HD / System / Library / Preference Panes / DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane

So, if I understand you correctly, the last item no longer exists and needs to be reconstructed. Can one not search around and determine whether it (or what other essential) actually does still live on his Mac and proceed from there?

The pref pane is a completely separate animal from System Preferences.app: the latter is a GUI to access and manipulate the former, so "they're related only by marriage, not blood".

I've been working on the (logical starting point, I think) assumption that the pref pane is alive, well, and where it belongs, but the app has been corrupted such that it isn't showing, but that's not necessarily the case, and the problem may in fact lie with the pref pane itself.

Ball's back in jaybass's court.
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/28/16 07:43 AM
If you still can't change your desktop background with SP v 7.0 try navigating to /System/Library/Preference Panes/DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane and double-clicking on it.

This is an interesting problem; please keep us up to date.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/28/16 06:25 PM
I do not have desktopScreenEffecysPrep. Those SP icons in the dock and apps are the gear wheel which okay. (1.9Mb) BTW, can I delete SP 5.2 in software apps and if I can, should I? jaybass
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/28/16 06:29 PM
SP 5.2 does not show in my apps. Only 7.0 Thats's why I asked you if it is okay to delete 5.2 jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 03/29/16 07:58 AM
Originally Posted By: artie505
If you still can't change your desktop background with SP v 7.0 try navigating to /System/Library/Preference Panes/DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane and double-clicking on it. (Emphasis added)

Originally Posted By: jaybass
I do not have desktopScreenEffecysPrep.

In your post #39686 in response to my post #39683 you said

Originally Posted By: jaybass
In pref panes, I have 29 items out of your 30. The missing one is Mac.prefPane....

and my list of 30 included it; did you navigate to /Library rather than /System/Library?

I'm assuming that you still can't change your desktop background from System Prefs v 7.0; is that correct, and if so, have you tried the three suggestions I linked to?

Originally Posted By: jaybass
Those SP icons in the dock and apps are the gear wheel which okay. (1.9Mb) BTW, can I delete SP 5.2 in software apps....

and

SP 5.2 does not show in my apps. Only 7.0 Thats's why I asked you if it is okay to delete 5.2 (Emphasis added)

Those two quotes contradict each other, so...

If you've got both SP v 5.2 and 7.0 in /Applications you can dispense with v 5.2, but just to be on the safe side, move it to your desktop, and let it sit there for a while until you're certain that it's unnecessary; if v 5.2 is only an icon in your Dock you can drag it out and be done with it.

At this point I'm not at all sure where you are or how you got there; I'd love to have been looking over your shoulder.
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 03/29/16 01:44 PM
I only have 7.0 in my apps. The 2 versions I mentioned are under the software apps (the apparent contradiction) which is why I asked if it is okay to delete the 5.2 However, now that I have solved the problem, I would still like to remove 5.2 Please let me know. My son has Snow Leopard so I asked him to email me the icon out of his SP's which he did. I double clicked the icon and then clicked the "fix the alias" option and then the install option. The program appeared instantly on my desktop ready to go. I tried a few background changes and everything was perfect, I then opened SP under the apple and the desktop icon and it was right there. How about that! The solution was so simple...out of the mouths of babes! I still have a few SP icons missing but I will determine if I need them. jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 04/04/16 09:24 PM
I finally made time to boot into my Snowy partition to see if I could figure out what your son sent you, and I had no luck; if there's a way to send an "icon" I couldn't figure it out. Did you say "icon" when you meant "file"?

Quote:
I only have 7.0 in my apps. The 2 versions I mentioned are under the software apps (the apparent contradiction) which is why I asked if it is okay to delete the 5.2 However, now that I have solved the problem, I would still like to remove 5.2

I've got no idea what "under the software apps" means, so although it sounds like you can get rid of 5.2 I can't say for certain.

I'm happy to hear that your problem is resolved, though. smile
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 04/05/16 12:30 PM
Hi, glad you replied. The 2 versions you will find in "About this Mac", more info, and then under software, click apps and that was where the 2 versions were. I did trash 5.2 no problem. Go to system, lib, prefPanes and drag the Displays.prefPane icon to your desktop. You can then drag it into an email and when received, it appears as a light switch cover with the top right hand corner turned down. When opened, you can install it. I have just sent one to myself but of course, you cannot install it because you already have it. Hope this clarifies my previous post. I'm sure others may find this useful. Thanks for all your legwork. jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 04/08/16 06:10 AM
Thanks for the clarification.

I thought you were talking about the pref pane itself when you said "icon" (but I wondered if your son had figured out how to do something I've never heard of).

I'm not sure how "Displays" has gotten into this discussion, but I guess it's one of your other missing SP icons?

I'd still love to have been looking over your shoulder, and I'll never understand files disappearing spontaneously from...well, from anywhere.

At any rate, I'm happy both to have tried to help and to hear that you're back up and running. smile
Posted By: jaybass Re: desktop background - 04/08/16 12:48 PM
artie, The Displays.prefPane icon when received by email is the Desktop & Screen Saver. Why it has a different name in the Pref panes I don't know. In your Snow leopard prefPanes, is it different to mine? jaybass
Posted By: artie505 Re: desktop background - 04/10/16 06:59 AM
Originally Posted By: jaybass
artie, The Displays.prefPane icon when received by email is the Desktop & Screen Saver. Why it has a different name in the Pref panes I don't know. In your Snow leopard prefPanes, is it different to mine? jaybass

I booted into my Snowy partition and emailed /Volumes/HDz/System/Library/PreferencePanes/DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane to myself, and I received this, with the icon correctly labeled DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane. (Clicking on the image enlarges it.)

The icon in the email is the light switch you described, and when I dragged it to my desktop it resolved into the correct icon...DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane.

I dunno...

Edit: I've also got /Volumes/HDz/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Displays.prefPane...entirely different animal.
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