[Solved] How to restore panel to default?

[Mazda81]

I have reinstalled LM18.3 xfce and was following some of the tips on the Easy Linux Tips website. When I rebooted the system my panel has changed to something I don't like. I can't seem to find a way to get back to the default panel [icons at the bottom of the screen and menu button in the bottom LH corner].
Does anyone know how to get the default panel back?

[all41]

Try:

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xfce4-panel -r

[Mazda81]

Thanks for the reply All41. Command produced the following:

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** (xfce4-panel:5826): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-fz03yP9Dmx: Connection refused

[all41]

Thanks for the reply All41. Command produced the following:

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** (xfce4-panel:5826): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-fz03yP9Dmx: Connection refused

The following is from the Ubuntu website. This closes the panel and controller, removes the configuration files, then restarts the panel
allowing a fresh set of configuration files to be created. Be sure to click "CODE: SELECT ALL" and copy/paste the entire statement to your terminal.

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xfce4-panel --quit; pkill xfconfd; rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/panel; rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml; xfce4-panel

There will be some terminal chatter that can be disregarded, but your panel should return to out-of-box condition.

[Mazda81]

I tried that and chose default panel configuration but the panel did not change to default.

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ndrew@andrew-desktop ~ $ xfce4-panel --quit; pkill xfconfd; rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/panel; rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml; xfce4-panel

** (xfce4-panel:2777): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-rYhxsKOW3x: Connection refused

** (xfce4-panel:2781): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-rYhxsKOW3x: Connection refused

** (migrate:2784): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-rYhxsKOW3x: Connection refused

** (wrapper-1.0:2791): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-rYhxsKOW3x: Connection refused

** (wrapper-1.0:2792): WARNING **: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-rYhxsKOW3x: Connection refused

[all41]

Odd.
Could you post the results of terminal inquiry:

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inxi -Fxz

Do you remember which tips you implemented?

[Mazda81]

The tips I can remember were - Turn on firewall - Reduce swap - Remove mono - Add weather to panel - Improve clock - Install simple games - Turn Num Lock on. One thing I didn't do and wish I had was to install the tool for backing up the panel [2.16]!
I saw a solution posted by Pjtor that involves deleting all hidden files & folders but I'm not confident enough to try it.
It is an old machine but it has been working fine with LM18 for some time. [Spec below]

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System:    Host: andrew-desktop Kernel: 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   Mobo: N/A model: MS-7093 Bios: Phoenix v: 6.00 PG date: 07/01/2005
CPU:       Single core AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (-UP-) cache: 512 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3) bmips: 3979 speed: 2000 MHz (max)
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] RV370 [Radeon X300]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1680x1050@59.88hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on ATI RV370
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] IXP SB400 AC'97 Audio Controller
           driver: snd_atiixp bus-ID: 00:14.5
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-34-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL-8100/8101L/8139 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
           driver: 8139too v: 0.9.28 port: dd00 bus-ID: 02:03.0
           IF: enp2s3 state: unknown speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 700.2GB (2.0% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST3200826AS size: 200.0GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Desktop size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 182G used: 11G (7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 2.14GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 31.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 154 Uptime: 47 min Memory: 752.0/1993.0MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

[all41]

Perhaps the addition of the wx applet went astray.

In a terminal enter

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which xfce4-panel

This should return /usr/bin/xfce4-panel
just to make sure it is there.

Try uninstalling and reinstall of the xfce panel using these steps:

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apt remove xfce4-panel

Ctrl+Alt+Backspace to log out, then log back in. You will have no panel at this point.
Now kill the controller and delete the config files, Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal:

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pkill xfconfd; rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/panel; rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml

(this should complete without terminal results)
Finally reinstall the panel. Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal:

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apt install xfce4-panel

Again log out and back in. Check the panel

[Mazda81]

I followed your instructions and when I rebooted it said something like "welcome to first use of xfce panel". I was offered two choices and I chose default panel but I still have the strange panel.
Thanks for your help.

[Mazda81]

The actual wording for the above was "Welcome to the first start of panel, choose below which set up you want. default configuration or one empty panel" I chose default but the panel hasn't changed.

As an experiment I replaced the xfce4 folder from the config folder with one from another machine also running LM 18.3 xfce but the panel still hasn't changed.

I'm wondering if "Panel" might be the wrong terminology, is it the whisker menu I'm having problems with?

If so how can I get back to the standard layout?

[Mazda81]

It seems that what happened was the Whisker menu disappeared for some reason and I was left with the default xfce menu. I have managed to get the Whisker menu back and am trying to get it back to how it was before.

[Mazda81]

I have marked this as solved. What happened was the xfce whisker menu disappeared, for some reason, and was replaced by the standard xfce menu which I was not familiar with.
I have now restored the whisker menu and set it up as it was previously.