Somethimes when I log into Xfce, the workspaces setting which I normally set to six is set back to one. I cannot tell why.
This isn't a bug in xfdesktop, the only code that modifies the number of workspaces in the middle click menu and removing a workspace now has a popup confirmation menu. The only way to narrow down which program it is would be to test disabling and re-enabling applications until you found out which program it is that is causing the workspace number change.
Your response is non sequitor. There are no programs runnning, especially when it can happen on a new boot up.
Programs like Xfwm4, xfsettingsd, or maybe the workspace switcher panel plugin? Any program that may manipulate the number of workspaces which may also startup at boot. One of those may cause the workspace issue you're seeing.
Are these all not part of Xfce? I know I did not put them in separately. They had to have come with the whole package.
Yes, they typically provide part of the complete Xfce DE. The problem is just seeing which, if any, of these are causing your issue so we know where to find and fix the bug.
*** Bug 10573 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
So how do we find out which one?
Reassigning to xfce4-settings.
Closing old bugreports