User Error: desktop broken; how to recover?q [Solved]

[LateJunction]

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System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-27-amd64 [6.1.115-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-27-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0
    Distro: MX-23.4_x64 Libretto July 31 2023 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 2746EDG v: ThinkPad SL serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: 2746EDG v: LENOVO 6AET64WW serial: <superuser required> BIOS: LENOVO
    v: 6AET64WW date: 12/01/2010
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 54.3 Wh (100.0%) condition: 54.3/57.2 Wh (95.0%) volts: 12.4 min: 10.8
    model: BTI 92P1141 type: Li-ion serial: N/A status: full
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core2 Duo T6670 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Penryn level: v1 built: 2008
    process: Intel 45nm family: 6 model-id: 0x17 (23) stepping: 0xA (10) microcode: 0xA0B
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 128 KiB desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB
    L2: 2 MiB desc: 1x2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2143 high: 2165 min/max: 1200/2201 boost: enabled scaling:
    driver: acpi-cpufreq governor: ondemand cores: 1: 2165 2: 2122 bogomips: 8777
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT disabled
  Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT disabled
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; STIBP: disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not
    affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel
    arch: Gen-5 process: Intel 45nm built: 2008 ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, HDMI-A-1,
    VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:2a42 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 driver: X: loaded: intel dri: crocus gpu: i915
    display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1280x800 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 338x211mm (13.31x8.31") s-diag: 398mm (15.69")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 mapped: LVDS1 model: Lenovo 0x4057 built: 2009 res: 1280x800 hz: 60 dpi: 98
    gamma: 1.2 size: 331x207mm (13.03x8.15") diag: 390mm (15.4") ratio: 16:10 modes: 1280x800
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Mobile Intel GM45 Express (CTG)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801I HD Audio vendor: Lenovo ThinkPad T400 driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:293e class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-27-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel PRO/Wireless 5100 AGN [Shiloh] Network driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl
    pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:4237 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e800 bus-ID: 0c:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Broadcom BCM2045B (BDC-2.1) [Bluetooth Controller] type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 5-1:2 chip-ID: 0a5c:2145 class-ID: fe01
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 1.2 lmp-v: 2.1
    sub-v: 424c hci-v: 2.1 rev: 518f
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:8 sco-mtu: 64:1 link-policy: rswitch hold sniff park
    link-mode: peripheral accept service-classes: rendering, capturing, audio, telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 232.89 GiB used: 83.46 GiB (35.8%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT250MX500SSD1 size: 232.89 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 023 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 23.28 GiB size: 22.75 GiB (97.71%) used: 14.76 GiB (64.9%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda3 maj-min: 8:3
  ID-2: /home raw-size: 96.86 GiB size: 94.78 GiB (97.85%) used: 68.7 GiB (72.5%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 3.97 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 dev: /dev/sda6
    maj-min: 8:6
  ID-2: swap-2 type: file size: 4 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -3 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 32.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2351 libs: 1189 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/graphics:darktable.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mxlinux.mirrors.uk2.net/packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
Info:
  Processes: 208 Uptime: 19m wakeups: 2 Memory: 3.79 GiB used: 1.49 GiB (39.2%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: BIOS (legacy, CSM, MBR)

Somehow I have managed to break or disable a number of the desktop functions in this install of MX Linux. I would be grateful for some advice on how to recover, including, if necessary, a re-install which will protect the Windows 10 install which I have on this dual booted laptop.

The most obvious 'defect' is that there are no 'minimize, maximize, close' icons on the menu bar on Thunar windows; on other windows they are there but only 'close' works. No windows can be moved or re-sized once opened. So, for example, I have a window that is only a few lines high in which to type this post. And while Firefox is open, its window sits on top of the panel so I cannot invoke a number of panel items which are 'beneath' the Firefox Window.

Other problems are that menu functions close immediately I try to use them - for example to invoke spelling corrections as I type here or to display history in Firefox or to type an application name in the Application Menu.

Overall the system performance is slow. Given that this laptop is 15 years old, the speed with which MX XFCE was previously running was most impressive; now it is less so.

How do I recover back to a correct MX experience?

[Kermit the Frog]

Create a new user ( "MX User Manager" from menu) and login with that and check if it's better or the same there. (According to that we'll know whether it's something system-wide or just user.)

If (in this case) it's difficult to open MX User Manager, simply press F4 and issue i.e.:

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sudo adduser kermit

then login as kermit.

[Eadwine Rose]

Create a new user ( "MX User Manager" from menu) and login with that and check if it's better or the same there. (According to that we'll know whether it's something system-wide or just user.)

If (in this case) it's difficult to open MX User Manager, simply press F4 and issue i.e.:

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sudo adduser kermit

then login as kermit.

Or pick a username of your choice.

[Kermit the Frog]

Yes, that's why I typed the "i.e."

[Kermit the Frog]

Meanwhile, yes you can reinstall as you did before, without touching to Windows.
Normally one can save home folder (hence most preferences, settings about desktop and programs). However in this case the current one is not healthy, therefore (in case you reinstall) it'll be better to just backup the data to somewhere, then reinstall without keeping home.

[j2mcgreg]

Your laptop is 14+ years old, so boot into a live session and make sure that everything you normally use is working properly. You said that this is a dual boot with Win 10. Are there any problems with it, no matter how seemingly insignificant?

[LateJunction]

Create a new user ( "MX User Manager" from menu) and login with that and check if it's better or the same there. (According to that we'll know whether it's something system-wide or just user.)

If (in this case) it's difficult to open MX User Manager, simply press F4 and issue i.e.:

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sudo adduser kermit

then login as kermit.

A quick test with another userid showed none of the obvious issues I am having with this current login - importantly I could open, resize and move Thunar windows

[LateJunction]

Your laptop is 14+ years old, so boot into a live session and make sure that everything you normally use is working properly. You said that this is a dual boot with Win 10. Are there any problems with it, no matter how seemingly insignificant?

I spent some time checking the Win 10 install, especially checking the functionality of those few specialist applications I use for which there is no usable or viable Linux equivalent. Everything I tried worked as I expected, aside from there being, for the first few minutes, no support for my ancient USB wired optical mouse. I used the ThinkPad hardware instead until USB mouse support became active again. So, the possibility of a hardware issue looks low. And the fact that running from a different, newly added MX user seems to function OK suggests the likelihood of Windows having damaged my MX install is low.

[Kermit the Frog]

... A quick test with another userid showed none of the obvious issues ...

OK, then we can go one by one (in the worst case we can reset all). When logged in as your normal (non-test) user:

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rm ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfwm4.xml

Logout, login.

(Just an ordinary terminal: not root)

(The window manager file will be recreated with the defaults when logged in).

[dolphin_oracle]

better maybe to run

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xfwm4 --replace

to try staring the window manager.