When I place any widget that monitor hardware on the panel, they show nothing but the words "No Data". Selecting them brings up an empty choice box, so nothing can be selected because nothing is found by KDE.

Can anyone help with this problem?

Thanks all.

Can you check whether you are missing "dataengines"? (check your package manager)
Do you see this on a new user account?
Do you see any messages on ~/.xsession-errors?

Dataengines are not available in any repository.

Niether Fedora 17 or KDE seem to offer a way to add other users.

Following is the lastest file contents for xsession-errors:

(imsettings-check:1054): GLib-WARNING **: (gerror.c:390):g_error_new_valist: runtime check failed: (domain != 0)

(imsettings-check:1084): GLib-WARNING **: (gerror.c:390):g_error_new_valist: runtime check failed: (domain != 0)
startkde: Starting up...
Connecting to deprecated signal QDBusConnectionInterface::serviceOwnerChanged(QString,QString,QString)
kbuildsycoca4 running...
No outputs have backlight property
QDBusConnection: name 'org.kde.kglobalaccel' had owner '' but we thought it was ':1.21'
>>> 0x19636d0 created Job Job
>>> 0x1965420 created JobFactory
>>> 0x17a79b0 created JobFactory
>>> 0x1788560 created Job Job
>>> 0x19656f0 created Job Job
>>> 0x17a79b0 deleted JobFactory
>>> 0x1965420 deleted JobFactory
>>> 0x19636d0 deleted Job Job
>>> 0x1788560 deleted Job Job
>>> 0x19656f0 deleted Job Job
kded(1157) PowerDevilUPowerBackend::brightness: org.kde.powerdevil.backlighthelper.brightness failed
kded(1157) PowerDevil::PolicyAgent::setupSystemdInhibition: failed to inhibit systemd powersave handling
kded(1157) PowerDevilUPowerBackend::brightness: org.kde.powerdevil.backlighthelper.brightness failed
kwin(1224): ""fsrestore1" - conversion of "0,0,0,0" to QRect failed"
OpenGL vendor string: X.Org
OpenGL renderer string: Gallium 0.4 on AMD REDWOOD
OpenGL version string: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.4
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.20
Driver: R600G
GPU class: EVERGREEN
OpenGL version: 2.1
GLSL version: 1.20
Mesa version: 8.0.4
Linux kernel version: 3.6.11
Direct rendering: yes
Requires strict binding: no
GLSL shaders: yes
Texture NPOT support: yes
QDBusObjectPath: invalid path ""
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
## Loading catalog liblancelot-datamodels
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
plasma-desktop(1240)/libplasma Plasma::isPluginVersionCompatible: unversioned plugin detected, may result in instability
Connecting to deprecated signal QDBusConnectionInterface::serviceOwnerChanged(QString,QString,QString)
static bool QDeclarativeMetaType::isModule(const QByteArray&, int, int) Qt 4.7 import detected; please note that Qt 4.7 is directly reusable as QtQuick 1.x with no code changes. Continuing, but startup time will be slower.
link XMLID_34_ hasn't been detected!
link XMLID_34_ hasn't been detected!
link XMLID_36_ hasn't been detected!
QGraphicsScene::addItem: item has already been added to this scene
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_0::maximumWidthChanged()
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_0::maximumHeightChanged()
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_0::preferredWidthChanged()
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_0::preferredHeightChanged()
kded(1157)/Network Management (NetworkManager backend) ConnectionDbus::fromDbusMap: Setting "802-1x" not initialized
kded(1157)/Network Management (NetworkManager backend) ConnectionDbus::fromDbusMap: Setting "802-1x" not initialized
Connecting to deprecated signal QDBusConnectionInterface::serviceOwnerChanged(QString,QString,QString)
file:///usr/share/kde4/apps/plasma/plasmoids/notifier/contents/ui/devicenotifier.qml:175:5: QML QDeclarativeListView_QML_21: Possible anchor loop detected on vertical anchor.
QGraphicsScene::addItem: item has already been added to this scene
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_18::maximumWidthChanged()
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_18::maximumHeightChanged()
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_18::preferredWidthChanged()
Object::connect: No such signal QDeclarativeItem_QML_18::preferredHeightChanged()
link XMLID_34_ hasn't been detected!
link XMLID_34_ hasn't been detected!
link XMLID_36_ hasn't been detected!
QGridLayoutEngine::addItem: Cell (0, 1) already taken
QGridLayoutEngine::addItem: Cell (0, 1) already taken
QGridLayoutEngine::addItem: Cell (1, 1) already taken
klauncher(1155)/kdecore (services) KServicePrivate::init: The desktop entry file "/home/mpk/.config/autostart/xfce4-power-manager.desktop" has Type= "Application" but no Exec line

klauncher(1155)/kdecore (services) KServicePrivate::init: The desktop entry file "/home/mpk/.config/autostart/spice-vdagent.desktop" has Type= "Application" but no Exec line

klauncher(1155)/kdecore (services) KServicePrivate::init: The desktop entry file "/home/mpk/.config/autostart/xfce4-settings-helper-autostart.desktop" has Type= "Application" but no Exec line

X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 2 (X_ChangeWindowAttributes)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e0022c
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e00237
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e00237
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 20 (X_GetProperty)
Resource id: 0x1e00237
QSqlDatabasePrivate::removeDatabase: connection 'qt_sql_default_connection' is still in use, all queries will cease to work.
QSqlDatabasePrivate::addDatabase: duplicate connection name 'qt_sql_default_connection', old connection removed.
I/O warning : failed to load external entity "/home/mpk/.qalculate/eurofxref-daily.xml"
I/O warning : failed to load external entity "/home/mpk/.qalculate/eurofxref-daily.xml"
krunner(1260)/libplasma Plasma::Package::isValid: Could not find required file mainscript
Object::connect: No such signal QDBusAbstractInterface::ActiveChanged(bool)

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Downloads/rar/technote.txt" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: text/plain

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Downloads/rar/rar.txt" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: text/plain

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Downloads/rar/readme.txt" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: text/plain

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Desktop/.directory" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: text/plain

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Pictures/Hoback%20River%20-%20S.%20Bosse%20photo.JPG" was not found, exec: xfdesktop-settings, mime_type: image/jpeg

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///etc/yum.repos.d/rpm-sphere.repo" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: application/octet-stream

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///etc/yum.repos.d/rpmfusion-free.repo" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: text/plain

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Pictures/Screenshot%20-%2001092013%20-%2011:24:07%20AM%20-%20Grub%20Customizer%20Startup-2.png" was not found, exec: xfce4-screenshooter, mime_type: application/octet-stream

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Pictures/Screenshot%20-%2001092013%20-%2011:22:42%20AM%20-%20Grub%20Customizer%20Startup-1.png" was not found, exec: xfce4-screenshooter, mime_type: application/octet-stream

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Downloads/allstar_otf.zip" was not found, exec: gnome-tweak-tool, mime_type: application/zip

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Downloads/grub-customizer-3.0.2/README" was not found, exec: mousepad, mime_type: text/plain

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Music%20and%20Videos/Poni-Tails%20-%20Born%20Too%20Late%20(STEREO%20VERSION).mp4" was not found, exec: totem, mime_type: video/mp4

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Music%20and%20Videos/%20Taken%20by%20Trees%20performing%20%20To%20Lose%20Someone%20%20on%20KCRW%20%20%20-%20YouTube.flv" was not found, exec: totem, mime_type: video/x-flv

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Music%20and%20Videos/Jem_Eragon_Once%20in%20Every%20Lifetime_%E2%80%8F%20-%20YouTube.mp4" was not found, exec: totem, mime_type: video/mp4

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "http://67.159.44.139:80/wotr1" was not found, exec: totem, mime_type: video/x-totem-stream

** (zeitgeist-datahub:1268): WARNING **: recent-manager-provider.vala:133: Desktop file for "file:///home/mpk/Downloads/pacman-4.0.3-5-i686.pkg.tar.xz" was not found, exec: xarchiver, mime_type: application/x-xz-compressed-tar
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
Running Mixer_Backend destructor
QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
plasma-desktop(1240)/plasma StatusNotifierItemSource::refreshCallback: DBusMenu disabled for this application
plasma-desktop(1240)/plasma StatusNotifierItemSource::refreshCallback: DBusMenu disabled for this application
kmix(1262) sink_input_cb: Ignoring sink-input due to it being designated as an event and thus handled by the Event slider
kded(1157)/kmix sink_input_cb: Ignoring sink-input due to it being designated as an event and thus handled by the Event slider
kded(1157)/kmix sink_input_cb: Ignoring sink-input due to it being designated as an event and thus handled by the Event slider
kmix(1262) sink_input_cb: Ignoring sink-input due to it being designated as an event and thus handled by the Event slider
kmix(1262) sink_input_cb: Ignoring sink-input due to it being designated as an event and thus handled by the Event slider
kded(1157)/kmix sink_input_cb: Ignoring sink-input due to it being designated as an event and thus handled by the Event slider
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Major opcode: 2 (X_ChangeWindowAttributes)
Resource id: 0x1e002ae

After adding a hardware monitor applet to your panel or desktop, can you observe any "ksysguardd" processes running in the background, likely attached to plasma-desktop?

If you do not, please make sure that "ksysguardd" is installed on your system.

ksysguardd was not installed or running, so I installed it. However, nothing changed. The CPU monitor widget I selected did not start working.

What should I do now?

did they ever work ?
new install ?
recent upgrade ?

which monitor widgets did you try?

data engines would found on the pc in the /usr/share/kde[4]/services folder
they should be in the kdelibs[s] and kdebase[4]-workspace packages

note: the "[4]" denotes that depending on distro the 4 may/not be part of the name

Did you try logging out after installing ksysguardd to ensure any unpropagated changes were picked up?

No, they never worked. Even with fresh Fedora 17 install, nor with the proper upgrades thru yum-extender.

I tried CPU Monitor, Hard Disk I/O Monitor, Hard Disk Space Usage, System Monitor, Network Monitor, Memory Status, etc..

As you no doubt know, the panel is difficult to use. So the average user will not be able to ascertain if it is working correctly. (Right now, I can't even figure out how to add an application to the panel, nor why right-click on a menu item does not list the second panel as it should).

Anyway, I did install the Xfce task manager so that I could see what was running. I never could find the necessary daemon to be running.

Do you have any other ideas that might help?

No, I did not log out. No such directions were given.

I will do so now and try again.

Is the systemmonitor data engine installed?
You can check this by using "plasmaengineexplorer", as well as by ensuring a file named "plasma-dataengine-systemmonitor.desktop" is present somewhere under /usr/share.

After logging out and back in again, the widgets started working.

I ran plasmaengineexplorer from the command line in a terminal window and the applet came up. (I don't know what it does or what it shows, as it appears very non-intuitive. But at least it runs.?.?)

I added a couple more, and now that the monitoring widgets are running, I'm afraid it was all for nothing. All they show are tiny little graphs that take up the rest of the panel space, and are of no value to me.

I guess I'll have to look for another panel to use.

But thanks for your help in getting this to finally run. To bad it didn't out of the box. At least you can close this post now.

Thanks again.

Just as a note - Plasma Engine Explorer is a developers tool. In this case, you would have looked for and selected the "systemmonitor" data engine.

Ah, that explains it.