No taskbar and desktop-shortcuts

Hello everyone,
after logging in I see the background image of the desktop, but no taskbar and no desktop shortcuts. Right mouse click does not work either. All these things worked fine until the day before yesterday. What to do?
Thanks for your hlp from a linux-newbie .

Hi, and welcome! I too have experienced this a couple of times over the weekend. I noticed some updates came through today - hopefully should have sorted things out. Please make sure that your Software updater is pointing to 'Main Server' and not your country's locale server.

You may also try restarting your gnome-shell

Code:

gnome-shell --replace

Or just logout and back in again - I've been thinking about this thread since my last reply. I am wondering if Gnome updates are circumventing Zorin's - their long-term (the Gnome project) aim is to disallow users from having icons on the desktop. (Next it will be censure on what wallpapers to have! )

Strange issue indeed!

I just got a most recent update for Zorin OS, it was a small one, didn't require a restart or anything. But I restarted my computer today anyways, and so far everything is ok. Of course, I'm still on OS 12.4, so there might be some issues going on with OS 15.2 in regards to Gnome 18.04 IDK.

star treker wrote:Strange issue indeed!

I just got a most recent update for Zorin OS, it was a small one, didn't require a restart or anything. But I restarted my computer today anyways, and so far everything is ok. Of course, I'm still on OS 12.4, so there might be some issues going on with OS 15.2 in regards to Gnome 18.04 IDK.

Gnome Shell 3.30.2! (Ubuntu 18.04)

Hello, what is the key combination for opening the terminal window? Thx

Swarfendor437 wrote:Or just logout and back in again - I've been thinking about this thread since my last reply. I am wondering if Gnome updates are circumventing Zorin's - their long-term (the Gnome project) aim is to disallow users from having icons on the desktop. (Next it will be censure on what wallpapers to have! )

Hi Swarfendor437, thx for the tip, unfortunately it does not help.

qwertzu5 wrote:Hello, what is the key combination for opening the terminal window? Thx

Ctrl+Alt+t

carmar wrote:

qwertzu5 wrote:Hello, what is the key combination for opening the terminal window? Thx

Ctrl+Alt+t

The following error message appears: "Key combination <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <t> could not be started. Child process" exo-open "could not be executed (file or directory not found)."
What to do? Thx

Hi, Are you running Core or Lite?

Edit- talk about a refresh page failure...

Swarfendor437 wrote:

star treker wrote:Strange issue indeed!

I just got a most recent update for Zorin OS, it was a small one, didn't require a restart or anything. But I restarted my computer today anyways, and so far everything is ok. Of course, I'm still on OS 12.4, so there might be some issues going on with OS 15.2 in regards to Gnome 18.04 IDK.

Gnome Shell 3.30.2! (Ubuntu 18.04)

Thats what I get for coming on the forums being so tired lol. Either that, or I was just waking up at the time lol.

Hello, I found out that the problem occurs after uninstalling standard programs (e.g. mail).
I reinstalled Zorin and won't uninstall anything for now.
Thx
qwertzu

This is why it helps to have a large hard drive. I find that when you uninstall apps in Linux, sometimes it removes the dependencies in the process, which makes other apps malfunction. Its best to just leave the apps you installed on the drive. And most apps for Linux are less then 500MB, so if you have a 512GB drive or better, it won't matter.

Hi,

gnome-shell --replace

worked for me with 15.2.

After the command, the screen went black with the icons still there, then off altogether for a few seconds then it all came back with the taskbar at the lower screen with its icons.

Great !

Thanks

qwertzu5 wrote:Hello, I found out that the problem occurs after uninstalling standard programs (e.g. mail).
I reinstalled Zorin and won't uninstall anything for now.
Thx
qwertzu

I think StarTreker is probably right on this one- A dependency like the Desktop got removed along with an uninstall. And if StarTreker is correct about what happened- What you have done I have done several times, too.

That said, I would prefer that you not feel locked in like that you cannot uninstall anything.

Whether you use the Terminal or if you use Synaptic Package Manager, when you move to uninstall or remove a package, it will tell you what it will take along with it.
While Linux is generally very modular, some things are inter-dependent. This is true for any operating system. But in Linux, you have greater freedom and control to access those things. That can be a great thing when you need it, but it also can be trying when you don't expect it. Such as this.
So when you are removing a package, remember to Read The Output on the Terminal or in the Synaptic Popover window warning what it will take with it. IF it will take the Zorin-Desktop environment with it, or XFDesktop or Gnome Shell, you know to stop the removal process and not remove that particular package.
If it wants to remove objects that share the name of what you are removing, you are fine. If it wants to remove files beginning with 'lib..." then you are probably fine, too. Those library files are related to what you are removing. Most things can be safely removed, but Core objects or Shared Object Files generally are not.

Well, ok, you CAN remove ANYTHING you want- but it takes a bit of know-how and you must replace as you go for some things. At first, it's better to ignore the packages that are integrated and set the software you prefer to use as the default.
And if you have doubts or questions, please ask. But I would encourage you to fearlessly set out to do some Removals and learn the system. Back up any personal data, then forge ahead. Since you just did a fresh reinstall of the O.S., you have some room to play there.