Network Preferences Won't Load

When I try to open network preferences from the system preferences window the header changes to "Loading Network...", but no progress is ever made. The window just stays stuck on the initial system preferences window with the loading header.

Any ideas?

I'm not so sure it could be that your os is malfunctioning you may want to reinstall os. What are you running tiger? Leopard? snow leopard?

Snow Leopard

I have the same problem on Snow Leopard 10.6.2: Open Network Preferences… leads to the System Preferences window, entitled “Loading Network…”, which doesn’t change.

Can I reinstall whatever is broken without having to reinstall everything?

Create a new user account and try it from there to see if it is system wide or your user account only.

And resetting the PRAM, by holding command-option-p-r whilst rebooting, hasn’t helped.

New account test had the same problem: system-wide, not just this login. (Good suggestion, BTW.)

The only two things off the top of my head would be:

repair permissions - have seen this correct some things lately the naysayers to this say it won't do

reset your router - disconnect the power for 30 seconds and retry

You are or are not able to connect to the network and/or internet while this is happening? Using ethernet or wireless?


edit: may be able to reinstall this preference pane with Pacifist, not sure, have never had to use it myself

Using WiFi, configured before this failure, the internet works fine. Indeed, there’s no other obvious loss of functionality (except that I can’t create a peer-to-peer home network).

Working WiFi was reset recently—after this problem started—and to no obvious effect.

Permissions being repaired.

Permissions repaired. WiFi restarted (can’t see how it could help, nor how it could hurt). No change: still broken.

I've only found two other instances of this in quite a bit of searching that were solved - both were on Jaguar systems - both were system wide - both did all the typical troubleshooting steps, i.e. deleting pref files, pram reset, emptying cache, verifying drive, repair permissions, etc. - both ultimately ended up doing an an archive and install.

If you already own Pacifist, you might try replacing the existing Network Pref Pane.

There are a few others around that might have more ideas.

If you've got a SuperDuper! backup, I'd be checking it to see if it works and pull the file from that drive.
Or replace it from a Time Machine backup copy.

Please, in “pull the file from that drive”, which file?

The Network.prefpane

It's located in:

MacIntosh HD / System / Library / PreferencePanes


Try moving the existing one to the desktop and then copy over one from a backup prior to when this started happening.
And maybe try a re-boot, although it shouldn't be necessary.

So Pacifist was used to extract Network.prefPane from the instillation disc. Worked perfectly—thank you for the suggestion.

Better than a fresh install - glad it worked.

Except I’ve since learnt that all is not repaired.

• Open Network Preferences…
• Dialog: “To use the “Network” preferences pane, System Preferences must quit and reopen.”
• Click ‘OK’.
• Loading Network… (32-bit)
• Does nothing.
• Click a different preferences, then Network again.
• Network (32-bit) opens.
• Advanced…
• Click ‘Advanced…’. Unlock. Rearrange WiFi order, deleting some.
• Re-lock. Close.
• Re-open. And lo and behold, the changes made have disappeared: the old WiFi order is back.

Help please!

Prob'ly need to dump the existing preference file.

In your user account - Library - Preferences - com.Apple.SystemPreferences.plist

Initially, just move it to the desktop, log out and back in.

It'll mean resetting all system preferences you've changed from default..

> In your user account - Library - Preferences - com.Apple.SystemPreferences.plist
Moved to desktop. Machine restarted. Made no difference.

I expect Windoze to be this stubborn, not Apple Mac (Mac owner since ’88).

Further ideas please.

Try these two in your user account Library Preferences

com.Apple.internetconfig.plist
com.Apple.internetconfigpriv.plist

I know I'm late to this discussion - but maybe you are still listening:

I've recently upgraded to Snow Leopard.

I was pleased to find this thread, as I have the precise same problem. The network preference pane does not load - all other preference panes work fine.

I have extracted the Network.PrefPane from the installation disk with Pacifist, and have overwritten the existing file with it.

Contrary to my high hopes after reading your thread, this did not change anything.

I would be curious to know if you used the same installation disk you originally used to install the OS for the extraction of the file - is it reasonable to suspect the file is corrupt on my installation disk?

Do you have any other advice?

(I have already verified drive / repaired permissions)