yum update scrambles Gnome/Metacity

[tkoco]

Using FC5 64 bit; I did a "yum update" command from the terminal window as root. yum updated 295 files. I tried starting FC5 this morning. The system booted up to the login screen. However when I log into the standard Gnome desktop, I only get a blue screen. If I change the session to 'gnome defaults', then the desktop comes alive and reports that 'dbus' service is not running. So, where do I start looking for the problem(s)?

[tkoco]

Some additional info: 'gnome defaults' is actually 'failsafe Gnome' session; next - I shutoff session items like power manager and such- also changed the theme; no difference! Still the B.S.O.D. gnome style when I login as a normal gnome session. Does anyone reading this message have an idea as to why the gnome desktop works in 'failsafe' mode, but BSOD with a normal gnome session?
Please keep in mind that everything worked correctly "before" the 'yum update" command was ran.

[tkoco]

Got it figured out:
You have to login as a different user, 'su' as the affected account/user, 'cd' to that user's home directory and remove the following hidden directories:
$HOME/.gconf
$HOME/.gconfd
$HOME/.gnome
$HOME/.gnome2
$HOME/.metacity
$HOME/.nautilus

After you have removed these hidden directories, logout and login as the affected account. The desktop/gnome/metacity processes will rebuild the hidden directories and plugin default settings. Of course, you will need to recustomize your desktop afterward - like reload the theme, background image, desktop icons, etc.

Hopefully this info will save someone else some hair pulling aggravation when "yum" hiccups!

[rkline1963]

Thanks!!!
I was having the same problem even when I started a KDE session and tried to start a Gnome application it crashed immediately. I even did a reinstall (but kept my home directory intact), and after doing a Yum update was still having problems. Whacking the directories fixed it.