Weird user-specific malfunction problem

[Ross Laird]

I wonder if anyone can assist with this (I've tried posting to both the xfce 
forum and the os-cillation forum without success -- but many thanks for the 
attempts by various people to help):

After upgrading xfce (using the os-works sources) to 4.2, all users but root 
share the problem that the window controls are missing and clickable cursor 
placement does not work (for example, I can't click into the address bar of 
the browser). Also, hovering over the mail icon on the panel causes the 
terminal icon also to be selected.

The root user is the only user for whom xfce functions properly.
Here's what I have tried so far to fix this problem:

1) Erasing .config, .cache, and .xfce4 files and directories for various 
users.

2) Copying over (using rsync) the .cache, .config and .xfce4 files from the 
correctly-functioning root user (being careful to correct the permissions 
afterward).

3) Looking for errors in xfwm4 (none have shown up) and in my .xsession-errors 
files for the users in question. Also I have looked at .xinitrc etc.

4) Installing and running xfce4 by way of the os-cillation install packages 
(and putting the files in a distinct location from the Debian packages). The 
same problem shows up.

5) I have also tried purging and reinstalling xfce from the Debian 
repositories and from the os-cillation repositories. No effect.

Xfce used to work fine on my system -- no problems at all.
All other window managers also work fine (kde, gnome, wmaker, etc.).
Anybody know how I might tackle this?

Thanks in advance.

Ross Laird