[ubuntu-uk] Application launcher vanished

[Liam Proven]

On 27 October 2011 13:52, Louis Gidney <louis at gidney.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Ubuntu folks,
>
> I would be most grateful for help on two problems:
>
> 1.) My drop-down main menu for launching applications is failing to appear
> when I click on the usual icon on the main top edge panel (it just offers me
> 'Places' & 'System' & 'Quit...').  I have been managing without it for a
> while now because the few applications I use have start-icons on the top
> panel strip.
>
> I would be grateful if someone could help me to restore it.
>
> 2.) usb memory sticks which I use to overcome the limited size of the solid
> state netbook hard drive have recently failed to be recognised and mounted.
> The 'Add to panel' facility refuses to add "Disk Mounter" -which I assume is
> the required item (?).
>
> (I am using a Dell Netbook Inspiron Mini 1011 (or 1101?) which came with
> Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron, April 2008) pre-installed).  I use it as a desktop
> with external monitor, keyboard, mouse & usb external optical drive.)
>
> Thankyou in anticipation to someone out there,
> regards,
> Louis Gidney  (Louis AT Gidney DOT com - should you need it.)
>
> (PS. To give some idea of context- My needs are modest. I bought this
> netbook to run mainly just Mathematica (plus Firefox and Gedit plain text
> editor), hardly ever use Office, & never use it for games or dvd movies.  I
> am a 'senior' of 72 in good health, retired in NW Highlands, with experience
> in the computer industry as it was in the 1960s (but regretably not a
> fully-fledged up-to-date geek).  Engaged in extending my understanding of
> maths & physics, I occasionally make educational 'MathArt' physical models
> which illustrate various aspects of mathematics.  I have not yet learnt to
> use the terminal/console, but aim to do so when I get time to read a couple
> of books I've got on scripting.)

This is not a direct answer, but I'd suggest that, if you have plenty
of disk space, you update to Ubuntu 10.04. It's a bit more modern,
polished and rather faster, but it has much the same user interface
that you already know - there is no /major/ change. (That comes next
year!)

You should not need any disk mounter tool normally - any volume that
is recognised should be mounted automatically and appear on your
desktop.

As for the menu, Alt-F1 ought to open it even if the mouse won't.

And finally, the obvious question: have you tried rebooting the machine?

-- 
Liam Proven • Info & profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/lproven
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