Stuck in a basic XFCE desktop need to get Linux Lite Desktop back

[Bob Skill]

I so much appreciate LL, without it I would never have been able to leave MS windows.  I have been using for sometime.  I got into a basic XFCE desktop with mostly blank screen. I want to get back to my favorite LL 2.8 desktop with favorite whisker menu. The first time this happened I had multiple LL Control Center buttons show in the bottom bar and lockup occurred.  i rebooted and got the almost blank screen.  The second time with a different computer I was trying to get screen indicators via synaptic and missed up. I had not done a System Back which now I have done.  When I was trapped iin this screen I did not see the system back in the applications.  There was only a black safe icon I could find. Anyway my fix was to completely reinstall LL.  I am hoping some one has a much simpler way to do this.