Just for info.
I needed to get another test machine running so I did a fresh install of PCLinuxOS 2012.02 on an old pentIV, I got a good idea what the new KDE update would do so I just put a few random icons on the desktop and changed it to blue, did 407mb of updates, re-booted> log-in = Black desktop with bottom panel only> re-booted again> log-in = new desktop, bottom panel ok, No desktop icons so put a few on = ok.
No restore desktop icon, but it can be found in your 'Home' folder directory in the ' Desktop' directory. ran it came up with the error The backup folder (~/.kde4.bak) was not found. Exiting. it was there but empty !.
Firefox froze so went back to the older flash from synaptic and that solved that.
I was testing 'Linphone' that froze , Dolphin directories take a lot of clicks to open them !.
Put two widgets on the desktop.
Next other strange thing that just happened, I set the bottom panel 'clock' settings to show seconds and date , also set uk ,clicked ok > went Black screen again > then came back my desktop I started with from the new install, It has completle gone back to my few random icons and my blue desktop and my bottom panel is the same as it was from my new install .
So what happen to the updates.?
I see I have now got the icon on the desktop 'Restore my kde desktop' , I'm going to 'post' this first then click on it to see what happens.
Bye for now.
Edit.. pressing the 'Restore my kde desktop' just brings this up 'The backup folder (~/.kde4.bak) was not found. Exiting',
I did a re-boot , log-in No new Desktop or bottom panel ! , it's like I have never done any KDE updates.
Going to bed now.