Arch Linux

ajassat

Member

Registered: 2009-09-08

Posts: 9

Gconf error: "Failed to contact configuration server" on firefox start

1. The problem

If I try and load 32 bit applications which require gconf (such as firefox and totem) I recieve the following error:

GConf Error: Failed to contact configuration 
          server; some possible causes are that you need to enable TCP/IP 
          networking for ORBit, or you have stale NFS locks due to a 
          system crash. See http://projects.gnome.org/gconf/ for 
          information. (Details -  1: Failed to get connection to session: 
          [b]Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-KnKGBcSHAp: Connection 
          refused[/b])

The last line of the error suggests it is something to do with dbus too. I can tell you that the plug was pulled from my pc hence the problem is most likely to be a stale nfs lock.

2. Attempt at a solution

I am new to ArchLinux and have searched how to resolve the stale nfs lock but find no clear instructions on how to do this. I was advised to change the permissions for ~/.dbus but this does not work.

3. Other details

Running 'sudo firefox' starts firefox fine.
I have no .gconf directory in /home !

grapescan

Member

From: Russia / Samara

Registered: 2009-09-23

Posts: 2

Re: Gconf error: "Failed to contact configuration server" on firefox start

I fully support this problem. Have anybody got a solution?

grey

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2007-08-23

Posts: 679

Re: Gconf error: "Failed to contact configuration server" on firefox start

I'm not entirely sure, but here is what I would do:

1. Create a new user account and try to start firefox as that user.
2. are hal / dbus running (check with ps -ef |grep hal)
3. If 1. works and hal/dbus are running, log out and remove everything under /tmp owned by you , plus .dbus/session_bus/*.

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Good ideas do not need lots of lies told about them in order to gain public acceptance.

Lexion

Member

Registered: 2008-03-23

Posts: 510

Re: Gconf error: "Failed to contact configuration server" on firefox start

Put the following in your xinitrc:

if which dbus-launch >/dev/null && test -z "$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS"; then
        eval `dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session`
fi

I get this problem from time to time.

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urxvtc / wmii / zsh / configs / onebluecat.net
Arch will not hold your hand

ajassat

Member

Registered: 2009-09-08

Posts: 9

Re: Gconf error: "Failed to contact configuration server" on firefox start

Problem fixed by deleting the entire ~/.dbus folder.