top line in X windows display

applications- accessories - terminal
Once the Terminal window opens, enter the following command at the prompt:

gconftool-2 – -shutdown

(Note: There should be no spaces between the two dashes before shutdown.)

EDIT – Reader nickrud has suggested a better method instead of shutting down gconfd. Instead use the following command (thanks nickrud!)

gconftool – -recursive-unset /apps/panel

(Remember: There should be no spaces between the two dashes before shutdown.)

Then enter the next command:

rm -rf ~/.gconf/apps/panel

And enter one more command:

pkill gnome-panel

That's it!

I guess I didn't make myself clear, please forgive me, I am 71.

The "top line" I am referring to has applications, places, system, date and time and an icon to restart or quit on it.

I have a terminal icon that I dragged down, so I can get to terminal.

How can I get back the line that has applications etc on it??

Sorry for the confusion!!
TYVM!!

this may be a little over the top but email me your phone number and i will talk you through the steps .
 <email address hidden>

just a note i talk to others by phone just to help . i am disabled and this is what i enjoy doing .

Many many thanks!! I guess I must have typoed in the three or four attempts that I tried.
It sure would be nice if I could copy here and paste into terminal.
Anyhow I VERY CAREFULLY copied the syntax given by actionparsnip and the line "popped up".
I programmed in UNIX and C about 20 years ago on a Cray YMP.
I was working with a DirecTV eSATA (data is stored in Linux format).
I got through that "exercise" okay.
I only remembered ls -lat and the word vi and include from C.
I thought it might be fun to run through "C for Dummies".
And then maybe other C books and maybe even C++.
Again MANY MANY thanks!!
You "guys" are the greatest!!

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.