I made a fresh Jaunty (Ubuntu) install a few days ago and upgraded KDE to 4.2.90. It worked well for 2 days but now it's not showing my wallpaper, folderview or the system tray [see screengrab]. All popups and menu appear at the top of the screen. Other applications seemed to run ok for a while but now it hangs completely, requiring a reboot of the whole machine.

What could have gone wrong? Where does KDE write logs to? The same KDE is running fine on my laptop.

go to .kde/share, then in apps folder remove plasma if it exists and in config folder remove everything starting with plasma. From command line you can do it with rm -rf ~/.kde/share/apps/plasma* && rm ~/.kde/share/config/plasma*

I tried what you said Maki. There was no 'plasma' like file in ~/.kde/share/apps/, I deleted ~/.kde/share/config/plasma* and it looks like there was some change. I got a black screen that covered all but a 15 pixel strip at the top. So I could see the top 15 pixels of my desktop and the rest was behind the black screen and unusable.

Where's KDE logging stuff do you know?

KDE usually logs to ~/.xsession-errors.
Try cleaning the Plasma cache:

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rm -rf $(kde4-config --localprefix)/cache-*/plasm*

bcooksley wrote:KDE usually logs to ~/.xsession-errors.
Try cleaning the Plasma cache:

Code: Select all

rm -rf $(kde4-config --localprefix)/cache-*/plasm*

Thank you. I'm comparing the.xsession-errors for this computer with another from a machine that works and see if I can get the root of the problem. In the meantime if anyone is more comfortable with this file, I paste it below:

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/etc/gdm/Xsession: Beginning session setup...
Setting IM through im-switch for locale=en_ZA.
Start IM through /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/all_ALL linked to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/default.
startkde: Starting up...
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_klauncher.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kded4.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
kbuildsycoca4 running...
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
kbuildsycoca4 running...
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kconf_update.so
X Error: XSyncBadAlarm 154
  Extension:    144 (Uknown extension)
  Minor opcode: 11 (Unknown request)
  Resource id:  0x0
X Error: XSyncBadAlarm 154
  Extension:    144 (Uknown extension)
  Minor opcode: 11 (Unknown request)
  Resource id:  0x0
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kcminit_startup.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_ksmserver.so
(6993)/ KStartupInfo::createNewStartupId: creating:  "vusa-deskop;1245399945;60346;6993_TIME0" : "unnamed app"
findServiceByDesktopPath: kded/kephal.desktop not found
could not access kephald, falling back to QDesktopWidget
adding an output 0 with geom:  QRect(0,0 1280x1024)
adding a disconnected output 1
adding a disconnected output 2
adding a disconnected output 3
kdeinit4: preparing to launch
Could not find 'kglobalaccel' executable.
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_plasma.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_knotify4.so
(7054)/ checkComposite: Plasma has an argb visual 0x82f3088 20971521
(7054)/ checkComposite: Plasma can use COMPOSITE for effects on 0x82e90c0
Could not open library /usr/bin/knotify4: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_knotify4.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_knotify4.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
findServiceByDesktopPath: kded/kephal.desktop not found
could not access kephald, falling back to QDesktopWidget
adding an output 0 with geom:  QRect(0,0 1280x1024)
adding a disconnected output 1
adding a disconnected output 2
adding a disconnected output 3
kdeinit4: preparing to launch
Could not find 'kglobalaccel' executable.
QLayout: Attempting to add QLayout "" to QWidget "", which already has a layout
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwrited.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/kwrited: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwrited.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwrited.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kaccess.so
(7062)/ kdemain: Xlib XKB extension major= 1  minor= 0
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_nepomukserver.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kmixctrl.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_krunner.so
I: caps.c: Limited capabilities successfully to CAP_SYS_NICE.
I: caps.c: Dropping root privileges.
I: caps.c: Limited capabilities successfully to CAP_SYS_NICE.
"KConfigIni: In file /usr/share/kubuntu-default-settings/kde4-profile/default/share/config/kickoffrc, line 3: " Invalid entry (missing '=')
findServiceByDesktopPath: systemsettings not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/CloudComputing.pdf.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Documents.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/plasma_awol.png.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/vpn-config.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/config.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/config.zip.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/cacert.pem.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Connection.ovpn[2].desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/servercert.pem.desktop not found
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Connection.ovpn.desktop not found
Object::connect: No such slot TaskManager::TaskManager::configureStartup()
Object::connect:  (sender name:   'KDirWatch-4')
Object::connect: No such slot TaskManager::TaskManager::configureStartup()
Object::connect:  (sender name:   'KDirWatch-4')
Object::connect: No such slot TaskManager::TaskManager::configureStartup()
Object::connect:  (sender name:   'KDirWatch-4')
QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
kdeinit4: preparing to launch
Could not find 'kglobalaccel' executable.
"/usr/bin/kdeinit4(7073)" Error in thread 3052263952 : "org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown - The name org.kde.nepomuk.services.nepomukstorage was not provided by any .service files"
"/usr/bin/kdeinit4(7073)" Error in thread 3052263952 : "QLocalSocket::connectToServer: Invalid name"
findServiceByDesktopPath:  not found
findServiceByDesktopPath:  not found
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_trash.so
Nepomuk server already running.
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_desktop.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_trash.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_file.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch
Could not find 'kglobalaccel' executable.
QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /lib/libkdeinit4_sh.so
Could not open library /bin/sh: Cannot load library /lib/libkdeinit4_sh.so: (/lib/libkdeinit4_sh.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_printer-applet.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/printer-applet: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_printer-applet.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_printer-applet.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_update-notifier-kde.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/update-notifier-kde: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_update-notifier-kde.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_update-notifier-kde.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kblueplugd.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/kblueplugd: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kblueplugd.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kblueplugd.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kmix.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_klipper.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch
Could not find 'kglobalaccel' executable.
QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
11;0QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
New transaction with tid "/48_accccebe_data"
New transaction with tid "/49_bcdbdcce_data"
removing transaction from pool :  "/48_accccebe_data"
removing transaction from pool :  "/49_bcdbdcce_data"
New transaction with tid "/50_ebaabdde_data"
enumFromString ( State ) : converted "" to "" , enum value -1
removing transaction from pool :  "/50_ebaabdde_data"
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwalletd.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwalletmanager.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/kwalletmanager: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwalletmanager.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kwalletmanager.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
QCoreApplication::postEvent: Unexpected null receiver
New transaction with tid "/51_eceebcea_data"
enumFromString ( State ) : converted "" to "" , enum value -1
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_firefox.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/firefox: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_firefox.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_firefox.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_konsole.so
New transaction with tid "/52_bbeaebec_data"
New transaction with tid "/53_bdebbeab_data"
removing transaction from pool :  "/51_eceebcea_data"
removing transaction from pool :  "/52_bbeaebec_data"
0;0removing transaction from pool :  "/53_bdebbeab_data"
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_dolphin.so
Could not open library /usr/bin/dolphin: Cannot load library /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_dolphin.so: (/usr/lib/libkdeinit4_dolphin.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
findServiceByDesktopPath: /home/vusa/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/vusa.desktop not found
"/usr/bin/dolphin(8144)" Error in thread 3048638208 : "org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown - The name org.kde.nepomuk.services.nepomukstorage was not provided by any .service files"
"/usr/bin/dolphin(8144)" Error in thread 3048638208 : "QLocalSocket::connectToServer: Invalid name"
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_trash.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_file.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_file.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/kde4/kio_thumbnail.so
kDebugStream called after destruction (from void KDirWatchPrivate::removeEntry(KDirWatch*, KDirWatchPrivate::Entry*, KDirWatchPrivate::Entry*) file /build/buildd/kde4libs-4.2.90/kio/kio/kdirwatch.cpp line 903)
Cancelled INotify (fd 10, 1) for "/home/vusa/.local/share"
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib/libkdeinit4_kate.so


Please verify your installation of KDE 4.3 trunk. That installation appears to be heavily non functional, missing many components.