I am facing this same problem (not really a crash but like in the other duplicates of this bug a white and grey screens with some black boxes as if some applets trying to load, and then nothing).
I am using kdebase-workspace 4.1.1-0ubuntu3 and I removed the plasma-appletsrc file and the problem persists.
I created a new account to have a fresh .kde and still the same problem.
I also have an ATI card (3400 series) in a Dell Studio 1535 laptop.
I am facing this same problem (not really a crash but like in the other duplicates of this bug a white and grey screens with some black boxes as if some applets trying to load, and then nothing).
I am using kdebase-workspace 4.1.1-0ubuntu3 and I removed the plasma-appletsrc file and the problem persists.
I created a new account to have a fresh .kde and still the same problem.
I also have an ATI card (3400 series) in a Dell Studio 1535 laptop.