Ubuntu
gnome-panel package

task bar not showing on new boot

Asked by jack sterling

Ubuntu 10.04 . . . on about every tenth boot (approximate number and not consistent) the task bar does not load. The rest of the desktop files do but not the task bar. It take a Control/Alt/Del (since there is no other way without the task bar) to restart and then it appears.

This started happening on my HP laptop (DV2) but now is doing the same on a Dell (4600 Dimension) tower. In the case of the tower the task bar almost always comes up but the configuration (length, nothing showing) changes daily. Sometimes they show but are in reverse order. Weird, what?

PS . . . I update the system(s) every day

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Sam_
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Best Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#1

Random issues can be anything.
If the panel starts I'd save a copy of .xession-errors.
Next time the panel doesn't start I'd compare the two xession-errors files.
This may give some hints.

Maybe it isn't gnome-panel, instead an indicator applet is crashing it.
Or it's a race on startup. Review logfiles such as dmesg, syslog, Xorg.0.log.
Or gnome-panel is just hidden, move the mouse somewhere around the corners.
In case disable visual effects of compiz.

You can restart the panel or start it at all via terminal: ctrl+alt+t
Type:
pkill gnome-panel

or just
gnome-panel

## you could even put the cmd in autostart. (Afaik will disappear in Gnome3)

Also you can recursive unset the settings you've made to default.
gconftool --recursive-unset /apps/panel

## gconftool is a tool of gconf-editor
http://library.gnome.org/users/gconf-editor/2.32/gconf-editor.html

There is Bug #147943 where the status of 'gnome-bugs' is 'unconfirmed'.

They still support gnome-panel, but who knows for how long and are quite busy with release of Gnome3.
Regarding gnome-panel it would be a so called upstream bug.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/GNOME

btw. if there is no panel, try if Alt+F2 works. Insert gnome-panel and hit [Enter].

You can also logout with shortcut ctrl+sysrq+k
Mentioned in last paragraph there.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/DontZap#Aside:%20sticky%20keys

Or switch to tty (virtual console text mode only): ctrl+alt+f1
type:
pkill gnome-panel

and go back to desktop with: ctrl+alt+f7

For emergencies.
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-use-magic-system-request-keys-in-ubuntu-linux.html

Revision history for this message
jack sterling (jacksterlingusa) said : 		#2

Thanks - when the panel is present pkill removes it . . temporarily. It pops right back up. It will be interesting to see if it works when I need it. <g>

Revision history for this message
jack sterling (jacksterlingusa) said : 		#3

Thanks Sam_, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#4

I've linked a 'master bug'.