So I'm playing around with Linux...first time I've ever even used this operating system and I accidentally deleted the main toolbar at the bottom and can't figure out how to recover it. If anyone has information about how to remedy this little mishap I'd appreciate it very much. This little imperfection is discouraging me from using linux. Please help.

try typing 'kicker' or 'panel' and see what happens. to counter your discouragement with losing the panel, i'd argue that the continuing stability of your box without these 'crucial' features should be instead encouraging; consider what happens when you start losing parts of windows when it is running. try ctrl-alt-backspace to kill the entire gui: you'll be at the command line, your machine running solid as ever. startx gets you back into the gui.

good luck figuring it all out.

If you're using Gnome (was there a footprint or a red hat on the main menu button?), right-click on the root window (that's the one that everything else `lives' in, you're probably displaying a nifty wallpaper in it, and otherwise known as the `background') and select `New Terminal'. The type ``gnome-panel & [return]''. A panel should appear. (You have the opposite problem from the one someone at work had: she had accidently deleted the workspace switcher and, in her attempts to get it back, she managed to create three extra panels on her desktop. I'm not exactly sure how she did it.) If you're using KDE (a gear and `K' on the main menu button), you're on your own unless someone else decides to step up to the plate.

Also watch out when right-clicking on Gnome panel icons. The menu that pops up has the rather annoying feature where ``Remove from Panel'' is really, really easy to select. It's discouraging to build up a new drawer icon and add a half dozen apps to it, only to lose it all when your finger slips off the mouse button.

Your problem is not all that uncommon for a new user, actually. Don't let it discourage you.

Good luck in your explorations,
Rick