Bug#435005:

[Ondřej Válek]

Sven Arvidsson wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for providing more information. 
>
> I don't think the directory is the problem, it exists on my system too.
> I think it fails to parse something in your ~./gnome2/backgrounds.xml
> file. Can you attach a copy of it to the bug report?
>
> It would also be interesting to know if it crashes with the new
> appearance preferences in 2.20, you could try the version from
> experimental or wait for it to hit unstable/testing.
>   
The directory is definitely causing the problem on my computers. When
directory /usr/share/gnome-background-properties (apparently coming from
desktop-base package) doesn't exist, the dialog shows up correctly and
very fast. Otherwise it crashes (no matter whether it's empty or not).
I'll wait for v.2.20 to see if it changes ...

I've attached my ~./gnome2/backgrounds.xml
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: backgrounds.xml
Type: text/xml
Size: 18827 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.alioth.debian.org/pipermail/pkg-gnome-maintainers/attachments/20070925/1dce40b6/attachment-0002.bin 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: smime.p7s
Type: application/x-pkcs7-signature
Size: 3675 bytes
Desc: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature
Url : http://lists.alioth.debian.org/pipermail/pkg-gnome-maintainers/attachments/20070925/1dce40b6/attachment-0003.bin