martin rudalics writes:
 > Once more (I'm confused): What I wanted you to try is to get that bad
 > frame (the one without title decoration and without minibuffer) back on
 > screen.  Let's call this the "bad base state".  Now please in that state
 > do:
 > 
 > (1) Apply your window manager's key shortcut to maximize it and then the
 >      shortcut to restore its normal size.  Do title bar or minibuffer
 >      come back?

No both in the 'maximized' state and on restored the window is exactly
the same (though in a different position relative to the rest of the
screen). The one difference is that the emacs frame which was
originally showing two windows now only shows one window. I'm
including a screenshot of the maximised state. Other applications
maximise as expected - as does emacs when the desktop isn't loaded.
(I commented in a previous message that maximise isn't working
properly when the frame is in this state).