If you use GNOME on Ubuntu or other Linux distributions, you've probably encountered panel problems. Maybe you accidentally deleted a panel while right-clicking, removed an applet you can't figure out how to restore, or woke up to find your panels mysteriously scrambled. Don't worry—these issues are fixable.
What Are GNOME Panels?
GNOME panels are the bars at the top and bottom of your desktop (by default) that contain your application menu, system tray, window list, and various applets. They're central to the GNOME desktop experience, so when they break, your desktop becomes difficult to use.