i crashed linux
 

well, i was watching streaming video, paused it, came back and started it again, and the web-page stuck, so i restarted the computer, and now it's missing that important bar at the top with the switch off button and applications. reinstall? oh, this reminds me some other operating system i used to have.

is debian more stable than ubuntu? what's the ubuntu version of control alt delete (to switch off the computer)?

Re-installation is rarely required to fix user-space applications. What distro are you using? What desktop environment are you using?

Sometimes you can reboot with Alt/printScr-REISUB.
I have 2 Ubuntu's and Debian-all 3 freeze under heavy load-often!
Slackware hasn't froze on me yet!

i had thia happen to me yesterday. do you see the bar swipe across the screen if you change work spaces? it happened to me when i tried dual screening with my HDTV, even when i changed it to not display, i still had it lost...basically i plugged my tv back into my laptop, and dragged it back :D

newbie asks "where's the thank you button"?
 

i'm using xubuntu 8.04.1 "hardy heron" release i386. Xfce manages the desktop.

no, not seeing any bars to drag across my screen when changing workspace. but thanks for the suggestions; they helped someone else.

"Sometimes you can reboot with Alt/printScr-REISUB" um, where is REISUB?

hey, you made me look at what program was controlling my desktop. activating the "show desktop menu on right click" means i can now access this missing menu bar with a right click. thanks.

i'll go back to loving linux because i don't have to reinstall. first i loved it cos it worked and fixed loads of problems, then i hated it because i have to read a lot of faqs and posts, but i kinda love that because people are so kind on these forums. aren't linux users open, friendly and non-judgmental? you wouldn't believe how many forums just reply RTFM with a burn. i'm pressing that thank-you button loads.

If you still have a panel at the bottom of the screen, can you right-click on it and select 'new panel' and create it again? Are you using Gnome? That's the default Ubuntu desktop environment I believe.

Since you are using xubuntu, I will assume you are using the default XFCE desktop environment. It would have been nice if you'd answered both questions. Anyway open a terminal and try this

you are a genius
 

thanks so much. that worked.

sorry i didn't answer both questions. i didn't know what the question meant. or should i say, "haven't been understanding" (=didn't + don't)?

LOL I can see a flame coming. Ubuntu is great for newbies. Installs easy and for the most part works out of the box but I find it buggy. Debian Stable is a little harder to install but is much more stable (less buggy) than Ubunto. A newbie would have some trouble installing Slackware. If you'r looking for 'Rock Solid' performance then Slackware is by far the better choice.

Keep coming back to this forum and see what others have to say about different distros.

Glad you figured out your problem.

mmm, dont feel bad sham, no need for you to appologize, as far as i can tell, you did answer both of his questions..

the first question,
is answered

and the second question.

is apparently answered by

and confirmed to be a correct answer to the question by the comment,
its always nice to be able to assume the answer to a question you dont realize you've been given :D ("Big grin" for the non smilie users around here)