Erratic task bar icons in LXDE

[Howard]

Does this occur if you reverse the order of launch?

How can I do that?  I only know how to open the Application Launch editing window from within the Panel Preferences window.  But deleting the PP window and then re-opening it and other similar tricks always leave it on top.  BUT this only applies to the AL window - for example the Firefox window will cover the PP window.

[Neal ManBear]

Does this occur if you reverse the order of launch?

How can I do that?  I only know how to open the Application Launch editing window from within the Panel Preferences window.  But deleting the PP window and then re-opening it and other similar tricks always leave it on top.  BUT this only applies to the AL window - for example the Firefox window will cover the PP window.

We're not communicating very well it seems. What I meant was reverse the order in which you open the 2 settings apps, Application Launch Bar settings and Panel Settings.

By Panel Preferences and PP, do you mean Panel Settings? And what is the AL window? Please use the names that are displayed on the top bar of each. It will help me to know what you are talking about.

How do you delete your "PP window?" Do you mean close it?

[scoundrel]

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

this is how it's on all my lxde .. and nothing has been checked to make it so

[Neal ManBear]

Until I figure out what is going wrong and find a way to correct it, you can drag the inactive window to one side and the active to the other. Or close one before opening the other. Best "work-arounds" I can think of at the moment.

[scoundrel]

Until I figure out what is going wrong and find a way to correct it, you can drag the inactive window to one side and the active to the other. Or close one before opening the other. Best "work-arounds" I can think of at the moment.

its not a problem Neal.. just irritating ..

[Howard]

Until I figure out what is going wrong and find a way to correct it, you can drag the inactive window to one side and the active to the other. Or close one before opening the other. Best "work-arounds" I can think of at the moment.

That's what I have been doing too (mentioned in my earlier post).  Sorry about the abbreviations, what I was saying is that I cannot reverse the order, since the only way to open the second window is from within the first  (as far as I can see anyway.)

[Neal ManBear]

Until I figure out what is going wrong and find a way to correct it, you can drag the inactive window to one side and the active to the other. Or close one before opening the other. Best "work-arounds" I can think of at the moment.

That's what I have been doing too (mentioned in my earlier post).  Sorry about the abbreviations, what I was saying is that I cannot reverse the order, since the only way to open the second window is from within the first  (as far as I can see anyway.)

Either can be opened or closed separately.
To open the Panel Settings right click on the open (blank) space of the panel and choose it from the menu. To open Application Launch Bar Settings click on the Application Launch Bar (the icons area on the left - I usually click on the base of lxdecc) and choose it from the menu.

[Howard]

Neal, Aha! So that's how.   BUT the Panel Preferences window still stays on top.

And, just to set the record straight, when I click on Panel Settings the window that appears does have "Panel Preferences" in its title bar and not "Panel Settings" - hence my abbreviation PP.

I think we've done this now don't you!

[Howard]

Getting back to the original topic. 

After the update you suggested, everything was OK for a day or two, but now I am losing icons from my task bar again - but, now that I understand what it's doing better I don't think it's a task bar display problem.  I think that the task bar is correctly reflecting the fact that the apps are not running. 

When they fail to appear on boot-up I suspect it's because there was a problem, possibly with my hard disk.  I do have it set to verbose, and I think I can see error messages sometimes, but they fly by so fast that I cannot catch any details.  There must be a log somewhere - can you tell me where? 

[Neal ManBear]

Getting back to the original topic. 

After the update you suggested, everything was OK for a day or two, but now I am losing icons from my task bar again - but, now that I understand what it's doing better I don't think it's a task bar display problem.  I think that the task bar is correctly reflecting the fact that the apps are not running. 

Yes, the task bar will only show the apps that are running. If you will launch an app that isn't opening as it should (and therefore not showing in the task bar), there should be a message shown in the terminal. Post that message here.

Or are you talking about panel icons? The panel holds the application launcher with its icons on the left and the system section icons are on the right. The task bar sits on the panel in the center and shows which applications you have opened.

When they fail to appear on boot-up I suspect it's because there was a problem, possibly with my hard disk.

 
Is this apps that you have set to autostart on boot up?

I do have it set to verbose, and I think I can see error messages sometimes, but they fly by so fast that I cannot catch any details.  There must be a log somewhere - can you tell me where? 

Logs are in /var/log/.

[Howard]

Or are you talking about panel icons? Huh The panel holds the application launcher with its icons on the left and the system section icons are on the right. The task bar sits on the panel in the center and shows which applications you have opened.

I think it may be the system icons: in my case, (as I said in my first message) it's the little black speakers for volume control and master and the network icon that sits between them and maybe the digital clock.  It's the speaker icons that are erratic.

[Neal ManBear]

When it doesn't appear, do you have sound? If not, start your music player from the terminal and try to open some music. Are any messages displayed in the terminal? If so, what? Quote the message(s) exactly as they appear.

Also, check in PCC > System > Manage system services to be certain that alsa is set to start on boot.