Left, Top Panel is missing in ubuntu-12.04.1-desktop-i386 after installation

try opening up a terminal ctrl+alt+t and running unity --reset

At the login screen select the Unity2D session.

Samuel,

Here is the log details listed below after executing 'unity --reset' command. But, the issue still persist.

Log:
=================================

dillipkumarnayak@ubuntu:~$ unity --reset
WARNING: Unity currently default profile, so switching to metacity while resetting the values
Checking if settings need to be migrated ...no
Checking if internal files need to be migrated ...no
Backend : gconf
Integration : true
Profile : unity
Adding plugins
Initializing core options...done
compiz (core) - Warn: failed to receive ConfigureNotify event on 0x24000f9

Initializing composite options...done
Initializing opengl options...done
Initializing decor options...done
Initializing vpswitch options...done
Initializing snap options...done
Initializing mousepoll options...done
Initializing resize options...done
Initializing place options...done
Initializing move options...done
Initializing wall options...done
Initializing grid options...done
Initializing session options...done
Initializing gnomecompat options...done
Initializing animation options...done
Initializing fade options...done
Initializing unitymtgrabhandles options...done
Initializing workarounds options...done
Initializing scale options...done
compiz (expo) - Warn: failed to bind image to texture
Initializing expo options...done
Initializing ezoom options...done

(compiz:2614): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_client_add_dir: assertion `gconf_valid_key (dirname, NULL)' failed
WARN 2012-10-13 12:30:11 unity.favorites FavoriteStoreGSettings.cpp:139 Unable to load GDesktopAppInfo for 'ubiquity-gtkui.desktop'
Initializing unityshell options...done
compiz (core) - Warn: unhandled ConfigureNotify on 0xc000a1!
compiz (core) - Warn: this should never happen. you should probably file a bug about this.
WARN 2012-10-13 12:30:12 unity.libindicator <unknown>:0 Desktop file '/usr/share/applications/libreoffice-writer.desktop' is using a deprecated format for its actions that will be dropped soon.
WARN 2012-10-13 12:30:12 unity.libindicator <unknown>:0 Desktop file '/usr/share/applications/libreoffice-calc.desktop' is using a deprecated format for its actions that will be dropped soon.
WARN 2012-10-13 12:30:12 unity.libindicator <unknown>:0 Desktop file '/usr/share/applications/libreoffice-impress.desktop' is using a deprecated format for its actions that will be dropped soon.
Initializing annotate options...done
Initializing blur options...done
Initializing clone options...done
Initializing colorfilter options...done
Initializing commands options...done
Initializing cube options...done
Initializing imgjpeg options...done
Initializing kdecompat options...done
Initializing mag options...done
Initializing neg options...done
Initializing obs options...done
Initializing opacify options...done
Initializing put options...done
Initializing resizeinfo options...done
Initializing ring options...done
Initializing rotate options...done
Initializing scaleaddon options...done
Initializing screenshot options...done
Initializing shift options...done
Initializing staticswitcher options...done
Initializing switcher options...done
Initializing thumbnail options...done
Initializing water options...done
Initializing winrules options...done
Initializing wobbly options...done
ERROR 2012-10-13 12:30:13 unity.glib-gobject <unknown>:0 g_object_unref: assertion `G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
Setting Update "main_menu_key"
Setting Update "run_key"

WARN 2012-10-13 12:36:21 unity <unknown>:0 Unable to fetch children: No such interface `org.ayatana.bamf.view' on object at path /org/ayatana/bamf/application756416830

WARN 2012-10-13 12:36:21 unity <unknown>:0 Unable to fetch children: No such interface `org.ayatana.bamf.view' on object at path /org/ayatana/bamf/application756416830

WARN 2012-10-13 12:36:21 unity <unknown>:0 Unable to fetch children: No such interface `org.ayatana.bamf.view' on object at path /org/ayatana/bamf/application756416830

WARN 2012-10-13 12:36:21 unity <unknown>:0 Unable to fetch children: No such interface `org.ayatana.bamf.view' on object at path /org/ayatana/bamf/application756416830

ERROR 2012-10-13 12:36:24 unity.glib-gobject <unknown>:0 g_object_set_qdata: assertion `G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
failed to create drawable
compiz (core) - Warn: glXCreatePixmap failed
compiz (core) - Warn: Couldn't bind background pixmap 0x3600001 to texture

~Dk

Did you try the 2D session?

@actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666)

Excellent Andrew !!! You are superb....
I was struggling this issue for past 2 days and did a lot of RnD with out any success. My bad luck :-(

Many thanks to you and Samuel for your super fast, smart, fruitful response.

~Thank you,
   Dk

Get updated and install proprietary drivers if needed. May enable you to use the 3D option but the 2D will run on anything and runs faster than the 3D version