No taskbar after login/boot-up

I request assistance to fix the following annoying problem:
In SuSE 11.2, GNOME, the taskbar and menus are not available after boot up. Consequently I do not have access to applications which I urgently need for some work I am doing.

Lately I had to reboot a couple of times (by way of terminal window) in the hope that it comes up. Now, however, the taskbar/menues do not come up any more.

Thank you in advance for replying.

-hr
(this message written with SuSE 11.3)

Does this occur with a new user as well?