Panel problems

[Gregory Storer]

Hello all,

I seem to have run into a little problem with the panel, at least that's
what I think it is.

When I start Ubuntu and everything is fired up, I start up Evolution
from a launcher on my panel, the "Starting Evolution" icon appears on
the bottom panel, then after 20 seconds or so, just disappears.  The
panel then becomes non-responsive, so clicking any icons on it achieves
nothing.  

I've tried CTRL+ALT+Backspace to restart X, but that never restarts
again successfully, I get the log on screen, enter my user name and
password and then wait and wait and wait, but the screen remains blank,
nothing but a pale yellow background and the mouse pointer.

I hit the power button which powers the machine down and restart.

I then use the Options button on the log on page and select "fail safe
gnome" and everything runs OK

I've been searching the forums, searching google and can't find a
suitable answer.  I've looked at every log file I can find on my
computer and can't seem to find anything wrong.

The problem seems to have happened while I was using VNC to log into my
computer from work - that was the first time it happened.  I've disabled
the remote desktop stuff, but still no luck.

So, does anyone have any ideas about what I should try next?  

Thanks.

Greg.