nothing in system preferences panel

[rtaylor]

I'm a new user, just purchased a Wallstreet laptop with OS9 and OSX installed. Started on OS 9, which worked fine. Out of curiosity I switched to OSX. Couldn't get online. Tried to switch back and found that the system preferences panel was blank, except for a "see all" ikon, which I clicked and got nothing. Next, I tried to restart using the OS 9 CD, but got only the blue page routine with the little spinning globe in the corner, a slow return to OSX instead of the OS9 CD. So I'm stuck in OS X and can't use it, can't get back to OS 9. Is this a password related issue? Am I denied access to the system preferences because I'm not the registered "administrator"?

[Paragon]

Have you tried holding down the "option" button while starting. This enable you to choose which system you want to start.

[rtaylor]

Yes, I've tried that. Also have tried zapping the PRAM. I thought I had succeeded at one point in reinstalling OSX, but after I was told the installation was complete I was returned to the same place I was in before, the hard drive with the former owner's name on it.

[Paragon]

Have you tried posting your question at the press3.com support site?

[jollewhoever]

Just change StartDisk in System Preferences...
But you maybe got a bigger problem than that...

[cybergoober]

Originally posted by jollewhoever
Just change StartDisk in System Preferences...
But you maybe got a bigger problem than that...

OK.

Originally posted by rtaylor
…Tried to switch back and found that the system preferences panel was blank, except for a "see all" ikon, which I clicked and got nothing…

[kilowatt]

You can probably create a new admin user and go from there - sounds like someone made some rather custom preferences for you

Get into the NetInfo Manager, located in /Applications/Utilities/

Press the small padlock in the lower left side. Now authenticate as your current user - assuming you have admin-level access.

Navigate to /users

Duplicate your current user - So for me, I would hilight kilowatt and press the icon that looks like two folders staked on top of eachother - the mouse-over help says 'duplicate'

Next, edit the following values (you'll need to know how to use this application first)
Change UID to something slightly larger, like if its 501, make it 506 (it has to be unique)
Keep the GID. Its probably 20, which is fine.
Change the home to /Users/newuser
Change the name to newuser
remove everything password-related

Quit the netinfo manager

get into the terminal, type this:
sudo mkdir /Users/newuser
(type your password when asked)
then,
sudo chown newuser /Users/newuser
now log out, and log in as your new user.

If all this sounds too complex, just reinsatll - its probably a good idea anyway.

Another option is this, its much easier, but might not work:
1) launch the terminal
2) type this:
rm -rf ~/Library

log out, log back in. System Preferences should work fine.

[rtaylor]

I'm grateful for all the suggestions, which I'll try this evening and let you know what happens.