Erratic task bar icons in LXDE

[Howard]

I'm not exactly sure what the proper names for all the bits of the task bar are, but when everything is working properly down at the bottom right hand end of the screen I have (from right to left) the off button, the digital clock, the volume indicator, the wireless interface indicator and the master mixer control.  

However, the last three (emboldened above) do not always come up on boot-up and sometimes disappear during operation.  Most frequently I lose the volume control and sound to the speakers.  Rebooting usually brings them back, but sometimes I have to reboot a couple of times.  It's only these three icons that cause trouble and it's not to serious, but why are they unstable?   I cannot identify any particular action that causes the disappearances - I just notice that they are missing.

[Neal ManBear]

Howard,
The panel is what you are talking of. The taskbar is the part of the panel that shows which applications are open. The taskbar is only visible by the presence of these application icon-previews. When you have no apps open, you will not see the taskbar.

Lets try to fix your panel issues. Try these things --

1) Open PCManFM > click - View > Show hidden files. Open the .config folder. Find the lxpanel folder and rename it to oldlxpanel. Log out. Log in. What happens? Is the panel loaded correctly?

2) Reinstall lxpanel and lxde-common. Take note of any messages from synaptic about the installation and post them here. Log out. Log in. Is the panel loaded correctly? If not, redo fix 1.

[Howard]

1) Open PCManFM > click - View > Show hidden files. Open the .config folder. Find the lxpanel folder and rename it to oldlxpanel. Log out. Log in. What happens? Is the panel loaded correctly?

Panel OK except that it didn't hide and the background changed.  I.e. returned to default.

I'll try #2 if I still have a problem. 

In view of what you say it may be that the sound system is not booting up properly and nothing to do with the panel at all.

[Neal ManBear]

1) Open PCManFM > click - View > Show hidden files. Open the .config folder. Find the lxpanel folder and rename it to oldlxpanel. Log out. Log in. What happens? Is the panel loaded correctly?

Panel OK except that it didn't hide and the background changed.  I.e. returned to default.

Yes. That would be correct. Settings will be the defaults as a new lxpanel directory and files are created.

I'll try #2 if I still have a problem. 

In view of what you say it may be that the sound system is not booting up properly and nothing to do with the panel at all.

I hope the problem is gone.

[Howard]

I hope the problem is gone.

Can't be sure for a day or so, it has been intermittent, but I'll let you know.  OK for now.

By the way, when re-customising my Application Launch Bar I find that a problem I've mentioned before still occurs: the "Panel Preferences" window remains on top of the "Application Launch Bar" window, even when inactive.  There's room on the screen to separate them - but I don't think this should happen.

[scoundrel]

do you have two panels ? or do you mean right on top ? overlapping ?

[Neal ManBear]

Can't be sure for a day or so, it has been intermittent, but I'll let you know.  OK for now.

By the way, when re-customising my Application Launch Bar I find that a problem I've mentioned before still occurs: the "Panel Preferences" window remains on top of the "Application Launch Bar" window, even when inactive.  There's room on the screen to separate them - but I don't think this should happen.

I'm not sure I'm following you. So --
Application Launch Bar sits on the left section of the panel. It has the menu and icons for synaptic, firefox and etc. This is its settings app:

Panel settings app:

Which of these is being a problem?

[Howard]

I'm talking about the editing windows Scoundrel not the panel itself. 

The lower one sits on top of the upper, and stays on top when deactivated, but can be moved out of the way.  (I get a frame around mine as well as the contents you show Neal.  I don't know how to get a screen dump.) 

Maybe they overlap on screen because I'm using a netbook with a "wide" (i.e. short: 1024x600) screen.

As I say, its not a serious problem, but it's odd behaviour.

[Neal ManBear]

Screen dump? You mean screenshot? Use screenie. You can take a shot of your desktop or a single open app.

I use widescreen, too.

[scoundrel]

I'm talking about the editing windows Scoundrel not the panel itself. 

The lower one sits on top of the upper, and stays on top when deactivated, but can be moved out of the way.  (I get a frame around mine as well as the contents you show Neal.  I don't know how to get a screen dump.) 

Maybe they overlap on screen because I'm using a netbook with a "wide" (i.e. short: 1024x600) screen.

As I say, its not a serious problem, but it's odd behaviour.

ah.. now I get it.. yep that happens on my lxde's also.. and it's an irritant for sure

[Neal ManBear]

Any chance of getting a screenshot? I'd like to see what you're talking about.

[Howard]

Here it is at last Neal, you can see that the inactive window overwrites the active one.

[Neal ManBear]

It appears that you have windows set to remain on top. Do you remember clicking in a box to set "Keep inactive windows on top?"

[Howard]

Neal,

If I right click on the top of the window and select layer it seems to indicate normal.  Anyway, changing the options makes no difference.  Other windows e.g. multiple PCmanFMs do not do this, the active window comes to the top.  The panel preferences window is the only one that dominates.

I've switched to another machine - same here too.

[Neal ManBear]

Odd. Does this occur if you reverse the order of launch?