XFCE load error after installing (orig. gnome)

[spaceboy909]

I've been using Gnome (Hardy), and wanted to install xfce to save resources.

First I tried via synaptec, and installed the main package. This yielded an incomplete desktop and an error message.

I looked online and found instructions to use apt. It seemed to install fine, but I'm getting the same error message and still getting an incomplete desktop.

It's incomplete in that I have no taskbar, and possibly more missing that I haven't seen yet.

The error message is (paraphrased):
....cannot find internet address for 'your-desktop'......As a result, XFCE will not operate correctly. You may be able to fix this problem by adding 'your-desktop' to /etc/hosts file.

I've decided not to tinker with this until I get some help, as I don't want to lose anything.

[ibutho]

Add a line like the one below to your /etc/hosts file.

127.0.1.1 your-desktop

[spaceboy909]

Thanks, that cleared up the error message, at least. Looking at my hosts file, there was an extension (my name) that had been added to the end of the host name: my-desktop.MARK.

I commented that out, and added the normal one.

But, I still have the missing taskbar issue. Apparently, it's called a 'panel' in Xubuntu? Well, by default, it's showing a one button, small floating panel which has no default functionality.

xfce4-panel is running.

Any help is appreciated.

[spaceboy909]

Ok, I've at least found a work around for now. Hopefully it's just a one time glitch, but it doesn't sound like it bassed on other threads I've found.

My solution: 1) xfce4-panel -x, 2) xfce4-panel &. For reference, here are the links I found:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/xfce4-panel/+bug/53897
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xfce4-panel/+bug/138902
http://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2130
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1769745