Sometimes crazy things happen when you’re using Ubuntu, especially when you’re first getting started. It’s easy to mess things up and sometimes hard to get them back to normal. One problem I often see is that people accidentally delete their top or bottom panels (the bars that go across the top and bottom of your desktop and contain menus and other useful widgets). It can be especially frustrating when your top panel disappears along with the Application Menu … what’s a person to do?
You might see instructions in a forum or on a blog post that tell you how “easy” it is to restore your default panels with some “simple” Terminal commands. While these commands might be easy for the seasoned Linux geek, they can be confusing for everyone else. In an attempt to make things as simple as possible, I edited a small program originally found here, and made something that will hopefully get you back to Ubuntu bliss as quickly as possible.
Introducing: PanelRestore
PanelRestore is a small program that will allow you to restore the default Ubuntu panels quickly (it will also allow you to backup and restore your existing panel configurations). Here’s how to use it.
1. Download PanelRestore – Right-click here and choose “Save Link As”. Save the PanelRestore.tar.gz file on your desktop.
2. Find the PanelRestore.tar.gz on your desktop, right-click on it and then click on “Extract Here.”
3. You should now see another file on your desktop called “PanelRestore.sh.” Double click on this file and you will be presented with a pop-up window asking you what you want to do – click “Run.”
4. Now you will see the main program window. Here you have the choice to save your current panel settings and restore panel settings from a file, or to restore the default panel settings. Choose “Restore Default Panel Settings” and click “OK.”
5. If you’re sure that you want to restore the default Ubuntu panels, click “OK.”
6. Enjoy!
Great program. It solved my stupid “Delete This Panel” activity in a flash.
Well done mate!
I think this is a small great program, I hope it gets included by default in Ubuntu, so far the only solution for screwed desktops that I knew involved creating a new user and copying the files across the broken profile.
This an great program. thank you so much.
Great program! Now, what if I would like to restore not just the panels, but also the default wallpaper and possibly desktop icons? That is, the entire default Ubuntu Desktop… Can it be done?
Thank you very much! Very helpful.
Be honest, this is a great program and very helpful.
Thank you a lot.
Thanks a lot… Very helpful article.
Cool program. Thanks a lot!
thnxs, great program also as use of different panel settings.
Thanks a LOT Brother!
Wow you saved me from reinstalling 10.04 all over again, thanks!
Thank you very much
All of us know that Linux is not the most user friendly OS in world
but because of people like you, Linux is one of the most great operating systems.
thanks again
Thank you, Thank you.
phew!
Thanks you so much for your help………………………..
This just worked for me on Mint. It restored the original Mint settings. I had tried to add a panel, and it used the space for the panel, but there was nothing there. I couldn’t fix it.
Thanks, thanks, thanks.
Thanks so much! I’ve just switched to Ubuntu yesterday and already thought I had wrecked it!
Nice one just couldn’t copy paste the commands from other posts (browser problems). Worked a dream cheers.
Thank You!! This program is a life saver and so convenient.
Thanks. This helps a lot
Superb script!! Exactly what i had in mind when I was looking for help! Thanks a lot keep up the good work!
Thanks!!! This is great tool!
i am new to ubuntu and made a mess of the panels was going around in circles until i saw the video for this fix i was sorted in two mins VERY GOOD
Fantastic little script. Thanks!
thanks bro…
Wow what a life saver! I accidentally deleted my top panel and was trying about 15 minutes to get it restored. This is a gem of a program.
Thanks a million!
Thanks!! Simple and efficient! It helped me a lot! :-)
This is absolutely awesome!!! It saved me a lot of frustration over some lost things mistakenly deleted.
Thank you again!
Elegant.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot!!!
I keep trying with linux and its getting better….
….and I want to get rid of windows.
But I am wondering why it is so difficult to do from inside ubuntu.
Problems like this keep people away from linux.
thank you so much for this! i tried using the commands on terminal, and it didn’t do any help. great program! thanks again!!
This is such a wonderful program. Small but Powerful & very useful.
Thank you very much.
Wonderful program! Thank you so much. It was nothing major, but the first day I had Ubuntu I accidently deleted the sound icon on the top panel. I could not find how to restore it (the one with the automatic drop down), only the shortcut to the sound preferences page. This quick little application restored the panel to perfection.
Thanks again!
Thanks man you saved me :D
THANK YOU so much for this neat little program. It works and has proven to be very useful. I have one question though, and maybe this applies for others as well…
After I select “restore defaults” or “restore (saved) panels settings”, the application does the work, however, I can’t see my panels till I reboot. Is that the way it’s supposed to be? – or for others, do the panels appear immediately? – if so, then something is not working right for me…
Actually, it’s not a problem to reboot – at least I have my panels! – but was just wondering if that’s the way it’s supposed to be…
Ubuntu 10.04
Great stuff! Totally saved me from having to re-install on my cousin’s computer. YOU ROCK!
Wow, finally, thank U:)
Phew. Very helpful. Had no idea how easy it was to blow one’s own foot off.
hey.. awesome script you have written. This has been an great life saviour for me.
Keep you the good work!!!
Thanks man. Both panels missing after the initial 200+MB update.
(Twice, actually reinstalled Ubuntu.) Used your program but panels were
missing after reboot. Went to System>Preferences>Startup Applications>
Options>Selected – Automatically remember running applications when
logging out. Rebooted. Panels there.
Thank you so much, this was so helpful!
Thank You!
Great! you solved my problem. Thanks a lot.
Its Awesome,Boss !!!
Thank you, this program is very usefull..
Thank God there are people like you you saved my bacon.