GConf

So, I have experienced a couple lock-ups lately. The machine seems to continue to run, but the graphics go away. X is still running, but Gnome is off in la-la land. the /var/log/messages says something like "GConf shutting down" I look up gconf and start reading.

GConf is a mas configuration storage system for gnome. It stores settings for all kinds of programs and is queryable. Hey, this sound familiar. Wait a minute NOOO!!! GConf is the Windows Registry for Gnome!!! AAAAAAAA!!!!

No solution yet. I haven't been able to figure out if any one else is having the same trouble I'm having.

Dec 23 14:59:09 dellbox gconfd (root-5986): starting (version 2.20.1), pid 5986 user 'root' Dec 23 14:59:09 dellbox gconfd (root-5986): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory" to a read-only configuration source at position 0 Dec 23 14:59:09 dellbox gconfd (root-5986): Resolved address "xml:readwrite:/root/.gconf" to a writable configuration source at position 1 Dec 23 14:59:09 dellbox gconfd (root-5986): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 2 Dec 23 14:59:39 dellbox gconfd (root-5986): GConf server is not in use, shutting down. Dec 23 14:59:39 dellbox gconfd (root-5986): Exiting Dec 23 15:40:55 dellbox acpid: client has disconnected Dec 23 15:40:55 dellbox gnome-power-manager: (kelly) GNOME interactive logout because the power button has been pressed Dec 23 15:42:09 dellbox rsyslogd: [origin software="rsyslogd" swVersion="1.19.11" x-pid="1756"][x-configInfo udpReception="No" udpPort="514" tcpReception="No" tcpPort="0"] restart

Then after reboot I get stuff like this.

Dec 23 15:50:09 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): starting (version 2.20.1), pid 2363 user 'kelly' Dec 23 15:50:09 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory" to a read-only configuration source at position 0 Dec 23 15:50:09 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): Resolved address "xml:readwrite:/home/kelly/.gconf" to a writable configuration source at position 1 Dec 23 15:50:09 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 2 Dec 23 15:50:14 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): Resolved address "xml:readwrite:/home/kelly/.gconf" to a writable configuration source at position 0 ... Dec 23 16:19:22 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): Received signal 15, shutting down cleanly Dec 23 16:19:22 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2363): Exiting Dec 23 16:19:29 dellbox yum: Installed: gconf-editor - 2.20.0-1.fc8.i386 Dec 23 16:19:30 dellbox yum: Installed: gconf-cleaner - 0.0.2-4.fc8.i386 Dec 23 16:19:31 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2807): starting (version 2.20.1), pid 2807 user 'kelly' Dec 23 16:19:31 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2807): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory" to a read-only configuration source at position 0 Dec 23 16:19:31 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2807): Resolved address "xml:readwrite:/home/kelly/.gconf" to a writable configuration source at position 1 Dec 23 16:19:31 dellbox gconfd (kelly-2807): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 2

Well, Someone had the answer. I don't like it one bit. He says to go to the <user>/.gnome and <user>/.gconf folders and remove everything. I will loose all my settings, but this will make all the programs regenerate all the configuration.  This is the machine that I have brought up from fedora 5 to 6 to 7 and now to 8. That sounds like it might do the trick.

First I'm going to try gconf-cleaner. I hate this. I really hate this. Catch you in a couple of hours.