serpentine crashes from GConf-related error on start-up

[Chris Wagner]

This seems to be a problem since upgrading to Gutsy...

chris@chris-desktop:~$ serpentine

** (serpentine:14945): WARNING **: hal_initialize failed: (null)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/serpentine", line 128, in <module>
    app = SerpentineApplication (locations)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/serpentine/__init__.py", line 413, in __init__
    Application.__init__(self, locations)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/serpentine/__init__.py", line 164, in __init__
    self.__preferences = RecordingPreferences(locations)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/serpentine/preferences.py", line 301, in __init__
    self._on_gconf_device_changed()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/serpentine/preferences.py", line 455, in _on_gconf_device_changed
    self._device.data = self.__drive_selection.get_device()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/serpentine/gaw.py", line 153, in <lambda>
    fset = lambda self, value: self.__setter (self.key, value)
TypeError: GConfClient.set_string() argument 2 must be string, not None

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thanks for your report, is the crash reproducible with a new user?

[Chris Wagner (chris-wagner)]

The problem seems to have dissipated. I'll reopen if it comes back. Thanks. :)

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

While the simptoms have disapeared, the bug does exist.

I'll reopen it.

[Lilian ROBERT (lilian-robert)]

Hi,

I just encountered exactly the same problem...

Is there a workaround ?

My system is Ubuntu Gutsy up to date.

Thanks

[Chris Wagner (chris-wagner)]

Hey Lilian. Are you seeing the exact same stack trace that I posted?

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

I'll try to look into in the next few days.

[Lilian ROBERT (lilian-robert)]

Yes Chris, the exact same stack trace than you.

[wvarner (winshipvarner)]

Same problem here.

[Suco (sucotronic)]

Importance 'Medium'?? Come on!! This program is a direct dependency of ubuntu-desktop package, it's installed by default in all ubuntu machines. My windows converted users only want to record a music cd, and I have to install k3b to do it.
Please, one patch.

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

I (upstream maintainer) have no time to do it.

Will gladly accept a working patch, though.

[Suco (sucotronic)]

Ups, sorry for my pressure, but my users are driven my crazy. I'll
take a look to the code.
Thanks for the reply.

On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 4:56 PM, Tiago Cogumbreiro
<email address hidden> wrote:
> I (upstream maintainer) have no time to do it.
>
> Will gladly accept a working patch, though.
>
>
>
> --
> serpentine crashes from GConf-related error on start-up
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/154585
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

I am not sure, but I think this is solved in trunk. You can verify it by yourself in Launchpad.

[Suco (sucotronic)]

Looking for a solution(or a patch), I've found this thread:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=619031
It seems that if serpentine is unable to detect a valid cd-rw unit, the execution of the program fails.
The solution consist in better detection, showing a message box with the failed detection and by the command line.

[Chris Wagner (chris-wagner)]

Suco: which version of Ubuntu are you on? 7.10? 8.04? An older version?

And, does this problem always arise upon launching serpentine, for others?

[Suco (sucotronic)]

I'm on 7.10. And yes, this occurs in almost all the computers, except in those that have a cd-writer. It can be crazy to launch serpentine in a pc without a burner, but at least serpentinde should show a messagebox, no?

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

Yes, it should.

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

It's not fixed in trunk.

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

OK, I have tried fixing it. Could you try the version from trunk?

https://code.launchpad.net/~cogumbreiro/serpentine/main

[Suco (sucotronic)]

Now It works perfectly. Thank you very much for the help.

[Tiago Cogumbreiro (cogumbreiro)]

Fixed in trunk. Will be available in the next release.