How the heck did this happen?
 

What the hell?

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5...27largelg5.jpg

What's the problem? Looks like you opened a terminal session. Type "exit" at the prompt

Look again.

There are no Window borders. Note the lower left, I hit the Windows key and there should be a taskbar at the bottom, instead it appears out of nowhere.

I think I have a corrupt download. BUT this is the fifth or sixth itme I downloaded it.
Why was I able to download suse with no problesm but Mandriva is giving me trouble?

I also can't move those Windows.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1...argelg5ki7.jpg

Seems like something corrupted your KDE settings. Try logging out, do CTRL-ALT-F1 and login as a normal user on the command line. After that, do
After that do CTRL-ALT-F7 and log into KDE again and see if the problem is resolved.

Jesus CHRIST!
It happened again.
I just switched themes and BOOM.
Yeah, I'd say this is a bug.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/503...8mediumxh0.jpg

Anyway the command worked. I just got KDE the way I wanted it now I have to start over.

will that backup file return?

What theme is it? Did you install it yourself or is it part of your distros KDE themes?

it is part of the included themes.
It happens on different themes, never the same one.

Try creating another user and see if the same thing happens. It could be that something keeps corrupting your KDE setings.

it happens on other users when I do the same thing, but it is isolated to that specific accoount.
For example, if I log in as Joe, and it blows up, I log on as Henry I'm fine.

Strange bug. If you have the disk space and the time, try to do a separate clean install and if the bug persists report it to your distros devs.

Seems like something corrupted your KDE settings. Try logging out, do CTRL-ALT-F1 and login as a normal user on the command line. After that, do

Code:
$mv .kde .kde_bak
$mv .kderc .kderc_bak
After that do CTRL-ALT-F7 and log into KDE again and see if the problem is resolved.
__________________

This process worked well on Debian too my taskbar had disappeared. The only difference was that I had to reboot and was prompted by KDE to reconfigure it.

Just an idea: Do you use XGL or AIGLX? I had just the same problem when tweaking around with some knobs I'd better not touch...

I hazard a guess: you're using Mandriva 2007. There's a well known bug re: changing themes in KDE using '07. ...as in DON'T DO IT!!

Precisely why a new user works. Whatever you do don't change themes again... I learned the hard way.