I don't even see a task bar. Where is it?

If you are using KDE, right click on the Desktop and you should see a number of options. The first one is Create New and there are a number of options including Link to Application, link to URL and link to location. Click whichever you want and fill in the text boxes.

If you want a Desktop link to an application, click the KDE menu and go to Applications and find it and right-click it and select Add to Desktop.

You still haven't indicated which Linux you are using. There are well over 500 so it makes a difference.

All I see is
New Folder
Open in Terminal
Paste (which is greyed out)
Organize desktop by name
Keep aligned
Change Desktop background

It's the long strip with the application launcher (the menu for applications). That doesn't look like anything I get from KDE, but more like what I remember from Xfce - are you sure you're in KDE?

no, I am not certain, how can I find out?

The easiest way depends on your distribution.

In OpenSUSE, for example, the login screen has a spanner (or tool) icon - if you click on that you get a menu of desktop environments (eg Gnome, KDE Plasma Workspace, LXDE, Xfce etc). Select one (eg KDE) and continue logging in.

We really need to know which distro you are using for more detailed answers.

Im on Oracle's Linux version 7.2. I think I'm on KED 4.14.8 (I get this from an icon "KDE Settings". Apps are Ktimer, Kwrite, etc. - Aren't the "K" apps only with KDE?

KDE applications usually (but not always) start with a "K&amp" but many non-KDE applications also start with a "K&amp".

It's common to have more than one desktop environment installed. If you have (for example) KDE, Gnome, LXDE and Xfce installed then you can expect all of their associated applications installed and you could use any of the KDE applications (such as dolphin or "KDE Settings") whilst using LXDE (or Xfce or Gnome etc) as the desktop environment.

I'm not familiar with Oracle Linux, what does the login screen look like? Can you see anything which may offer options when you log in? What happens if you log off instead of shutting down - do you see any options?

Can we see a screenshot of your desktop?

Hi,

I think I may not be on KDE...it may be GNOME (Screen shot attached)
--James

Attached Thumbnails

 

Thats Gnome 3, not KDE. You most likely have KDE installed as well, but this desktop is Gnome 3. I tried using Gnome 3 for about 2 days and hated it. I dont like that you cant easily add icons to the taskbar,(not sure about desktop). I prefer KDE over Gnome 3. On my Centos 6 machine at work, that Im currently on, is Gnome 2, or Gnome Classic. So I'm not sure that you can add icons to the desktop on Gnome 3 without maybe configuring some text files.. Could be wrong..


This is for ubuntu, but since its also for the gnome 3, it could still help
http://askubuntu.com/questions/43246...ons-on-desktop

that is Gnome3

back in post #2 you were asked what distro you are using
in post #22 20 posts later we finally find out it is Oracle's clone of redhat 7.2

the DEFAULT on rhel/OUL/CentOS 7.2 is Gnome3

gnome-tweak-tool is already installed, but I see nowhere to launch the Gnome Tweak tool