Lost the "system preferences" application.

The system preferences window got deleted and now the settings cannot be changed and all that goes with it. Anyone have an idea how it can be restored or do i need to do a re-install? This machine is running Leopard.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thank you.

Are you running Time Machine by any chance? If so, you can restore it from there. How did you go about deleting it?

You could try using Pacifist as outlined here or perhaps a better idea would be to reinstall the combo update (see here).

I was on my parents iMac and they had the preferences pane on the desktop. a I dragged it to trash thinking it was safe to do so. NOT! They don't use time machine. I am considering doing a fresh install.

Your imprecise terminology makes me wonder what you really did. The terms "window" and "pane" have specific meanings.

I've never tried dragging an open window to the Trash, and can't try it now, but I know if you drag an Icon to the Trash, the item it represents will be gone once the Trash is emptied.

Have you looked in their HD > Applications folder to make sure System Preferences is not there? (click on Applications in the Sidebar of any Finder Window)

toMACsh said:

Your imprecise terminology makes me wonder what you really did. The terms "window" and "pane" have specific meanings.

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing ......... Its a bit hard to do

You can simply copy the "Systems utilities" folder from any other mac and place it on your mac. It should work.

neil.kay said:

You can simply copy the "Systems utilities" folder from any other mac and place it on your mac. It should work.

Click to expand...

Most certainly you should NOT!

EDIT: There isn't even a "Systems utilities" folder to begin with, but never ever ever mess with the System folder. Ever. Even if you should, this wouldn't solve this problem.

Yes I know my terminology is somewhat lacking, and I know it is hard to fathom such a boneheaded move, but it happened. It was the system preferences "icon" which contained the system settings. (I don't need to explain that?)
The thread is called "system preferences app" THAT is what got deleted.
In any case, I do thank you for your assistance everyone!

Reiner2112 said:

It was the system preferences "icon" which contained the system settings.

Click to expand...

Ok then...
modifying a previous post (terminology again) should get you there:

neil.kay said:

You can simply copy the "Systems utilities" folder from any other mac and place it on your mac. It should work.

Click to expand...

"System Preferences" application

Or, with a program called Pacifist, which you can download, you can extract it from the installation disc that goes with that Mac.