Desktop Not Loading

[Frank Jahnke]

For some reason my desktop is not loading.  When I start Gnome (through
"startx") the Gnome splash screen loads, and some applications start.
The top and bottom bars are as they should be.  However, the wallpaper
and the desktop icons do not load.  Looking at the console start-up
messages provides no clues.  Most of the applications work as expected,
but (for example) the desktop appearance (from System -> Preferences)
does not.

Usually there is a dot file that, when removed, eliminates this sort of
thing.  Unfortunately, I've no idea which one this might be.  Any advice
would be most appreciated.

I'm on 6.3 and 2.20.2.

Frank