simple question - can I reset my KDE 4 desktop if I screw it up?

[davexnet]

I recently installed 2010.1, it's the first time I've seen KDE.
I did *something* at the top of the screen - some creation or modification
of a panel and/or widget (what ever that is).

anyway, I seem to have something invisible up there, since Firefox and other apps
now leave a one-inch space at the top.  Not knowing what to do,I simply created a new
user login and abandoned the first.   However, I will use the first for some experimentation
and learning, to see if I can figure out what is going on with it.

Is there a reasonable way to put the desktop back to default settings?

Secondly, the quicklaunch icons on the lower left.  When apps are opened and minimzed
(such as Firefox) they line up against the aforementioned icons and you can no longer tell them apart.
They have the same icon size and uniform spacing.
Please advise - how can I differentiate these sets of icons? Perhaps set the quick launch icons smaller?  How?

[nerdful1]

"Secondly, the quicklaunch icons on the lower left.  When apps are opened and minimzed
(such as Firefox) they line up against the aforementioned icons and you can no longer tell them apart.
They have the same icon size and uniform spacing.
Please advise - how can I differentiate these sets of icons? Perhaps set the quick launch icons smaller?  How?
"

I agree, just today as my wife finally decided to use PCLinuxOS more, she was confused with the open Firefox icon on the bottom, next to the launch icon.
Further confused at this point because for some reason FF would not re-open from the icon.

At this point I said "just a glitch, here is how to logoff and on and reset everything".

[Rudge]

If you unlock widgets/click on the cashew in the panel/add a spacer, then move that spacer from were it shows up, to just to the left of the open apps, they will then show up in the middle of the panel instead.

 
 

[nerdful1]

Didn't mean to hijack the thread.

But as the OP asked: Is there a way to reset to defaults? I know I messed with widgets and other things, and could not get it back to original without creating a new user.

[Rudge]

I don't think you have "hijacked" the thread as your post pertained directly to the second part of the OP's question.

However, I don't know how to get the desktop "safely" back to it's default state. I am sure there is a way, I just haven't played around with it.

[marc_uk]

Just creating a new user account is a very easy and non destructive way
- if you've backed up your user files Mozilla fav's and stuff you dont want to lose, and checked your new
user  account does everything you want you can then delete your old broken account if you choose,
the basic defaults used to be kept in /etc/skel on some distro's .. dont know if this is still the case,
but either way.. if its just an single app that needs re-setting to defaults, usually deleting the apps' local
folder in your home does the trick. of course, never delete anything unless you  are SURE.

[Phil]

Hot tip - lock your icons and lock your widgets....

Also (subject to confirmation) if you rename the hidden .kde4 folder in your home directory to say .kde4OLD the system will recreate a new .kde4 on the next login. However, anything in the old .kde4 folder will be ignored, eg kmail messages.

I have successfully deleted my wastebin (recovered) and accidentally messed up my desktop. KDE4 takes a bit of getting used to.

Also maybe create a disposable new user account and play with that to destruction, safe way to experiment.

Phil

[Germ]

Three commands ran as user to restore the default plasma desktop:

Code:

kquitapp plasma-desktop
rm -f ~/.kde4/share/config/plasma*
plasma desktop &

[TBABill]

Germ - Seriously??? It's really that easy? I have always wondered how to fix my jacked up KDE displays because I play where I shouldn't (well, I call it experimenting, but I also call it "not lost" when my wife and I travel and I have no clue where we are!! haha). Having this ability to just go back to default would save a guy like me who just can't get it right the first, second or hundredth time. I will be giving this a shot when I get home. I have some things that just look a little off because I tinkered and I feel like I am on a Win 95 machine in a few areas. I hate being new to an OS, but......I am 'not lost'! haha

Thanks again!!

[Germ]

Yes, it's really that easy.

[Germ]

Something I should add:

If you're using a KDE version older that 4.2, I believe.  The commands would be:

Code:

kquitapp plasma
rm -fv ~/.kde4/share/config/plasma*
plasma

I just assumed the OP was using KDE 4.4.x

[davexnet]

To be honest, I don't really know how to tell what version I'm on.

I installed 2010.1 4 or 5 days ago, and applied the few updates that appeared.
How do I check which version it's at ?

[coffeetime]

Open Konsole, copy/paste:

Code:

konqueror  --version

[davexnet]

Thanks for the version info - it's apparently at 4.43.  I attempted the series of commands
as mentioned by Germ:
Code:
kquitapp plasma-desktop
rm -f ~/.kde4/share/config/plasma*
plasma desktop &


and this is the response I got from the first command:

[davexnet@localhost ~]$ kquitapp plasma-desktop
Invalid D-BUS interface name 'org.kde.plasma-desktop.PlasmaApp' found while parsing introspection
[davexnet@localhost ~]$

Please advise further.

[Texstar]

texstar@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost texstar]# cp /etc/skel/.kde4/share/config/plasma* /home/texstar/.kde4/share/config
cp: overwrite `/home/texstar/.kde4/share/config/plasma-appletsrc'? y
cp: overwrite `/home/texstar/.kde4/share/config/plasma-desktop-appletsrc'? y
cp: overwrite `/home/texstar/.kde4/share/config/plasma-desktoprc'? y
cp: overwrite `/home/texstar/.kde4/share/config/plasmarc'? y
[root@localhost texstar]# chown -R texstar:texstar /home/texstar/.kde4
[root@localhost texstar]# exit
exit
[texstar@localhost ~]$ exit