xfce-setting-show gives no such file or directory plus HAL failure
 

Problem on Acer Aspire One, sending question for someone else - details provided are as follows:

under 'settings' the following do not work; display settings (dbl click w
nothing happening); network center - ditto.

browser launches but no connection to internet due to delete of network file

no taskbar at bottom

internal error msg on login;
failed to initialize HAL!

also panel manager has one panel open which is always on top... not sure
how to delete (can only delete end and more panels) or at least have
it in background.

Now, Adobe also autolaunches!

I found a 12 page thread on a similar problem on the aspire one website, it's too long to follow. Where do we start?