My KDE3.1 has suddenly decided to not start up and run properly.

When KDE is loading, it takes at least 45 seconds to 'complete' to Peripherals stage and 10 seconds to complete the Window Manager stage. On completing all stages, the cursor remains as a clock. The desktop has none of the usual icons and does not have the usual background display.

Applications can be started from the menu ("K" at bottom left corner).

All icons on the tray run their application ok, except the Konqueror file manager which starts, but will not do anything and cannot be dragged around the desktop like other windows.

Nautilus functions ok, and the desktop directory looks normal in the home directory - if an application in that directory is clicked (in Nautilus), the application starts and runs normally.

Gnome 2 starts normally and quickly (ie there is no delay on the peripheral stage, etc).

Earlier in the day KDE was operating normally; it shut down normally and this fault showed up on the fresh start up. I have not made any changes to my system for some time.

What can I do to restore my KDE?

I had a similar problem with Mandrake 9.1 and KDE 3.1. Try

I had a similar problem with Mandrake 9.1 and KDE 3.1. Try reinstalling Mandrake as an update. This seemed to refresh the module that got corrupted for me. I then then went and started applying mandrake KDE updates.

Hi, thank you for the quick suggestion.

And if I do as you say, what happens to the installed applications and configurations? Do I need to re-select them, or do I ignore this stage?

On the other hand could I re-install the relevant KDE rpms?

I'm being cautious because I have not been able to make a Mandrake-9.1 bootdisk - it seems the kernel is too big to fit on a floppy.

Since the software didn't change revision levels they are bypassed. The module that got corrupted had a different signature and was replaced. On reboot everything worked.
This worked for me, so I thought it may be worth a shot.

Well I tried that, but it did not fix the problem.

Next I did a "rpm -U --force" on five kde3.1 RPMs: libs, network, base, graphics, and libs-common. These did not fix the problem either.

Now, when KDE starts, I get the normal KDE task bar, BUT the Gnome desktop. To confirm this, if I right click on the desktop I get the characteristic Gnome menu, and if I click on the "K" on the tray I get the KDE menu. The Konqueror file manager starts ok but won't function.

All other applications appear to function ok, including Galeon which I'm using to post this.

Anyone got any suggestions??

Sorry my idea didn't work. Once I got mine working I did apply all the KDE maintanence from the Mandrake update site. You may want to try that. When you get it working again I would like to
know for future reference.

Some things go from bad to worse!

The problem turned out to be a dying harddrive which is now dead, along with my Mandrake.

Thanks for your interest and help.