Help! With Software updates

Everytime i try to open software updates the icon bounces in the dock and immediately closes. Even when i attempt to open it from system preferences it says: Could not load software preference pane. Please HELP! Without help i cant open my itunes or my safari
Thankss

Until someone else comes along with a solution. Trying running disk utility and repair permissions.

It appears something was changed.

Also open your user folder (Home) and look inside the Library\Preferences folder for a folder called com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist Drag that file out to somewhere else like the Desktop. Log out of your account then log back in and run Software Update. If it runs correctly you can delete the original file that you moved.

okay so i tried opening the file, logging in and trying to run it, but it just bounces in the dock and shuts right off! Please any other suggestions?

Sorry I didn't make that clear. Don't try to run the file just drag it out to the desktop or somewhere else. Then log out and log back in. Now try running Software Update and see what happens.