It was gnome-session! This is the /home/forger/.gnome2/session: [Default] 0,id=117f000101000117528882300000076030000 0,RestartStyleHint=1 0,Program=update-notifier 0,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 0,CloneCommand=update-notifier 0,RestartCommand=update-notifier --sm-client-id 117f000101000117528882300000076030000 --screen 0 1,id=117f000101000117528882300000076030001 1,Program=gnome-power-manager 1,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 1,CloneCommand=gnome-power-manager 1,RestartCommand=gnome-power-manager --sm-client-id 117f000101000117528882300000076030001 --screen 0 2,id=117f000101000117536632300000122270000 2,RestartStyleHint=0 2,Program=evolution-alarm-notify 2,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 2,CloneCommand=evolution-alarm-notify 2,RestartCommand=evolution-alarm-notify --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536632300000122270000 --screen 0 3,id=117f000101000117536632400000122270001 3,Program=evolution-exchange 3,CurrentDirectory=/ 3,CloneCommand=evolution-exchange 3,RestartCommand=evolution-exchange --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536632400000122270001 --screen 0 4,RestartCommand=/usr/lib/control-center/gnome-settings-daemon 5,RestartCommand=gnome-volume-manager --sm-disable 6,RestartCommand=restricted-manager --check 7,RestartCommand=/usr/lib/evolution/2.10/evolution-alarm-notify 8,RestartCommand=nm-applet --sm-disable num_clients=9 [Failsafe] 0,id=117f000101000117536636500000124050000 0,RestartStyleHint=2 0,Priority=40 0,Program=nautilus 0,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 0,CloneCommand=nautilus 0,RestartCommand=nautilus --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536636500000124050000 --screen 0 1,id=117f000101000117536636500000124050001 1,RestartStyleHint=1 1,Priority=40 1,Program=gnome-volume-manager 1,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 1,CloneCommand=gnome-volume-manager 1,RestartCommand=gnome-volume-manager --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536636500000124050001 --screen 0 2,id=117f000101000117536636500000124050002 2,RestartStyleHint=2 2,Priority=40 2,Program=gnome-panel 2,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 2,CloneCommand=gnome-panel 2,RestartCommand=gnome-panel --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536636500000124050002 --screen 0 3,id=117f000101000117536636700000124050003 3,RestartStyleHint=2 3,Priority=20 3,Program=metacity 3,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 3,DiscardCommand=rm -f /home/forger/.metacity/sessions/1175366375-12444-1202444034.ms 3,CloneCommand=metacity 3,RestartCommand=metacity --sm-save-file 1175366375-12444-1202444034.ms 4,id=117f000101000117536637400000124050004 4,RestartStyleHint=0 4,Program=evolution-alarm-notify 4,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 4,CloneCommand=evolution-alarm-notify 4,RestartCommand=evolution-alarm-notify --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536637400000124050004 --screen 0 5,id=117f000101000117536637400000124050005 5,RestartStyleHint=2 5,Priority=50 5,Program=gnome-cups-icon 5,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 5,CloneCommand=gnome-cups-icon 5,RestartCommand=gnome-cups-icon --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536637400000124050005 --screen 0 6,id=117f000101000117536637400000124050006 6,Program=gnome-power-manager 6,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 6,CloneCommand=gnome-power-manager 6,RestartCommand=gnome-power-manager --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536637400000124050006 --screen 0 7,id=117f000101000117536637500000124050007 7,Program=evolution-exchange 7,CurrentDirectory=/ 7,CloneCommand=evolution-exchange 7,RestartCommand=evolution-exchange --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536637500000124050007 --screen 0 8,id=117f000101000117536637500000124050008 8,Program=deskbar-applet 8,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 8,CloneCommand=deskbar-applet 8,RestartCommand=deskbar-applet --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536637500000124050008 --screen 0 9,id=117f000101000117536637800000124050009 9,Program=gnome-terminal 9,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 9,CloneCommand=gnome-terminal 9,RestartCommand=gnome-terminal --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536637800000124050009 --screen 0 10,id=117f000101000117536668100000124050012 10,Program=gedit 10,CurrentDirectory=/home/forger 10,CloneCommand=gedit 10,RestartCommand=gedit --sm-client-id 117f000101000117536668100000124050012 --screen 0 11,RestartCommand=restricted-manager --check 12,RestartCommand=/usr/lib/evolution/2.10/evolution-alarm-notify 13,RestartCommand=nm-applet --sm-disable num_clients=14 I cleared all the properties under [Default] and now runs normally :) I don't know if that helps you find the bug... but it helped me login normally.