Desktop settings and configuration disappeared (repeatedly)

[Michael Bona]

Hi everyone,

I am using Kubuntu 10.04 with KDE 4.4.2.

I have just had my desktop settings disappear (again). What I mean is 
that after logging in I do not see me desktop with my panels, icons, 
widgets etc. as set up by ME but rather the standard desktop a new 
user might see.

This first happened after a distribution update from 8.10 to 9.04 (I 
think) then again on 9.10 to 10.04 and now for the first after a cold 
reset (push the reset button). 

Since setting up everything again is a real pain, can anyone help me
a) preventing this from happening a or
b) backing up my configured desktop so that I can simply re-create my 
configuration by copying a few files.

Any help greatly appreciated!
Michael