make mate-panel --reset permanent? Prevent doubling?

[Mechphisto]

Linux Mint 18.1 64bit with Mate, and starting a couple weeks ago, whenever I reboot, the desktop restarts with everything on the task bar doubled:
Two clocks, two Menu buttons, two sets of status panels, etc.

I found if I run

Code: Select all

mate-panel --reset

in terminal, it gets rid of the duplications (and naturally resets the clock to 24-hour format).

That's ok, I can do that each time, but it's annoying. Is there a way to figure out why it keeps doubling and how to stop it?

I don't know what triggered it starting after about a year of being fine. (It used to do it before! But for the life of me I can't recall what fixed it. I seem to recall it just stopped on its own maybe.) I think it started doing it after I tried (unsuccessfully) to install XFCE as a desktop option (that's its own nightmare issue).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

[ibbill]

Next time there are double icons right click on the extra icon and choose remove from panel.

Just a thought.

[all41]

Perhaps there are two panels overlapping. Next time right click the panel and choose 'Delete This Panel'. This option will not be active if there is only one panel.