Lost Control Over My Desktop. Literally

[viking777]

Perhaps gnome desktop manager has stopped running?

Open a terminal and type

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gdm

See if that does anything, although the fact that you have a system tray and taskbar running leads me to think that might not work. Still no harm in trying.

[garda]

Last time I had this type of error, it was because I had clicked on 'Remember Currently Running Applications' button in Sessions Properties before. If you happen to have done the same thing, do not ever do that again. Now have you tried entering this in the Terminal:

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nautilus &

[proxima_centauri]

MintMenu-> Preferences -> Sessions

[proxima_centauri]

Is show_desktop checked under gconf-editor -> apps -> nautilus -> preferences??
If it's checked try rechecking it again - maybe run

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killall nautilus

in terminal afterwards

[garda]

This is getting weirder. Sometimes you have to log out and log back in for the changes to take effect. So what I suggest you do now is open up gconf-editor again, uncheck the 'show_desktop' option, log out and log back in, put check mark on the option again, then log out and log back in.

I know this does not sound pretty, but I have dug through several Nautilus-related bugs at BugZilla and have found that some of them can be sorted out by playing with relevant options in gconf-editor then logging out and back in -- losing desktop icons as well as losing the ability to right-click on the desktop for no apparent reason are among them.

[garda]

Did you ever install any desktop-related or eye candy utilities such as wallpaper switcher, compiz multiple-wallpaper plugin or anything at all? If so, try to remove (purge) them. If not, make sure there are no multiple instances of Nautilus running:
1. Close all open windows and applications.
2. Go to Control Center > Sessions > Current Session tab.

See my Session Properties/Preferences screenshot for reference.

[garda]

I have reached the end of my wits now, therefore all I can recommend is make a new user profile then transfer your files (except the settings) from your current home directory to the new one. You will probably have to fiddle with permissions settings on the files and directories, but that is a matter to be discussed later.

Another that is worth trying beforehand is to turn of visual effects (i.e. turn of Compiz) and see if the problem persists.

[madwoollything]

I'm having exactly the same issues with my Mint 6 installation.

I've rebuilt my installation and the same issue returned almost immediately.

[madwoollything]

I'm having exactly the same issues with my Mint 6 installation.

I've rebuilt my installation and the same issue returned almost immediately.

On further investigation I used gconf-editor (type 'gconf-editor' into a terminal to launch the application) then navigate to /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop. Remove the tick from the check box and reboot. Since then I appear to have everything working again as normal .... desktop and nautilus!

Hope this helps others.