Description of problem:

It is really difficult to remove mixer_applet2 ("Volume Control") from
a panel.  Apparently depending on a timing this may result in a panel
which does not react to anything and an applet icon still there or,
possibly, that icon gone but panel still not really operational (menus
not working, or working selectively, even if they show up).  In any
case mixer_applet2 after a removal is still there in a state "S".
Here is an example of a 'ps' line after such experiment:

root      2817  0.1  3.6 251904 18428 ?        S    13:26   0:00
/usr/libexec/mixer_applet2 --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_MixerApplet_Factory
--oaf-ior-fd=37

Only after explicitly killing such process, 'kill 2817' in this case,
panel starts work again as expected.  Without such action it could be
even difficult to log out as a corresponding menu may be not availalble
or non-operational.

I have seen at least once something of that kind with battery applet
as well but later I could not reproduce.  With mixer_applet2 something
like described above happens (nearly?) every time.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
gnome-applets-2.13.90-3

How reproducible:
at least easily