Klaus Knopper answers your Linux questions
Missing Taskbar
Klaus:
Just wanted to tell you that Knoppix 7.3 is outstanding and my favorite of the bunch. I have even installed it on an 8GB flash drive because I could, and I have it installed on my Linux machine along with Mint 9. I have noticed that sometimes when I boot my flash drive, the taskbar doesn't appear, so I just open up the Knoppix folder on the desktop and access the applications folder. I have discovered also that using the Ctrl+Alt+Backspace combo will restart it and the taskbar will appear.
I must also take this opportunity to thank you for Knoppix in general and the data recovery tools therein. I learned of them from my purchase of the Knoppix Hacks book from O'Reilly. I couldn't recover any data but learned more about the condition of my affected drives.
After being exposed to Linux back in 1999 and blindly diving in with no assistance, I have learned much and continue to learn as I finally decided to tackle the command line. Thanks again for an excellent live distro!
Jefferson
The sometimes missing taskbar and, in some cases, even missing window borders are some small glitches in the Compiz 3D window manager and LXDE, which I used in Knoppix 7.3. You already discovered the workaround: Usually pressing the mouse buttons just anywhere on the desktop also brings back the LXDE panel, and Compiz can be restarted from the KNOPPIX | Restart Compiz menu.
In Knoppix 7.4.1, I updated Compiz to the current development version 0.9.x and also recompiled LXDE, so these problems from earlier versions have disappeared. You might want to check out the new versions (Figure 2).
For system or disk recovery, I recommend the two excellent command-line-based tools TestDisk and PhotoRec from Christophe Grenier [2]. Although professional data recovery is normally not an easy task and requires in-depth knowledge of filesystem structures in complicated cases, these two tools make it easy to cover a wide range of scenarios for recovering from data loss (Figure 3). As a general rule: Always use a fresh disk to which you restore data, and never write to the original disk.
I also prefer the command line because error messages are easier to spot and interpret, and typing commands and options directly gives you complete control over what's going to happen. You don't rely on icons or buttons that are subject to misinterpretation or were thought by developers to be more intuitive than they really are.
If you have ever clicked away an annoying graphical dialog with OK, and a few seconds later realized you did not even read what it said – and it may actually DO something uncontrollable now – you know what I'm talking about. ;-)
Infos
- Knoppix terminal server: http://debian-knoppix.alioth.debian.org/packages/knoppix-terminalserver/
- Recovery tools: http://www.cgsecurity.org/
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora Asahi 40 Remix Available for Macs with Apple Silicon
If you've been anticipating KDE's Plasma 6 for your Apple Silicon-powered Mac, then you're in luck.
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.