No - there is no manual documentation for gnome-settings-daemon so, until you told me, there was no way to know how to create the log. This should help (I'm pretty sure I remember there being an update for gstreamer in the latest updates so that is likely to have caused the current issue): [code] ~ $ gnome-settings-daemon --debug --no-daemon ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Successfully connected to D-Bus ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting settings manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading settings plugins from dir: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/ ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Keybindings' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin' location='keybindings' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/keybindings for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Sound' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin' location='sound' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/sound for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Clipboard' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin' location='clipboard' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/clipboard for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Keyboard' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin' location='keyboard' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/keyboard for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/screensaver.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Screensaver' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/screensaver.gnome-settings-plugin' location='screensaver' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/screensaver for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Background' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin' location='background' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/background for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/typing-break.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Typing Break' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/typing-break.gnome-settings-plugin' location='typing-break' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/typing-break for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/font.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Font' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/font.gnome-settings-plugin' location='font' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/font for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='XRandR' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin' location='xrandr' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/xrandr for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='X Settings' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin' location='xsettings' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/xsettings for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Mouse' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin' location='mouse' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/mouse for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/dummy.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Dummy' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/dummy.gnome-settings-plugin' location='dummy' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/dummy for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Media keys' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin' location='media-keys' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/media-keys for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Accessibility Keyboard' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin' location='a11y-keyboard' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/a11y-keyboard for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='Housekeeping' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin' location='housekeeping' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/housekeeping for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading plugin: /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrdb.gnome-settings-plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsPluginInfo: name='X Resource Database' file='/usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/xrdb.gnome-settings-plugin' location='xrdb' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Monitoring dir /apps/gnome_settings_daemon/plugins/xrdb for changes ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x854eec8 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libxrandr.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdXrandrPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdXrandrPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdXrandrPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating xrandr plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting xrandr manager desired is = /home/paul/.config/monitors.xml.desired reading configuration... done error MATCHES** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated xrandr ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin xrandr: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x854ef18 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libxsettings.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GnomeXSettingsPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GnomeXSettingsPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeXSettingsPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating xsettings plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting xsettings manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated xsettings ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin xsettings: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x8579af0 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libsound.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdSoundPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdSoundPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdSoundPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating sound plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting sound manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated sound ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin sound: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x85802c8 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libfont.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdFontPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdFontPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdFontPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating font plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting font manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated font ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin font: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x8580318 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libbackground.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdBackgroundPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdBackgroundPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdBackgroundPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating background plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting background manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated background ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin background: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x8580390 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libkeyboard.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdKeyboardPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdKeyboardPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdKeyboardPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating keyboard plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting keyboard manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated keyboard ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin keyboard: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x8580428 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/liba11y-keyboard.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdA11yKeyboardPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdA11yKeyboardPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdA11yKeyboardPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating a11y_keyboard plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting a11y_keyboard manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated a11y-keyboard ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin a11y-keyboard: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x85ad0f0 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libmouse.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdMousePlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdMousePlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdMousePlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating mouse plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting mouse manager Shutdown failed or nothing to shut down. ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsManager: emitting plugin-activated mouse ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Plugin mouse: active ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GnomeSettingsModule 0x85ad140 initialising ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Loading /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-2.0/libmedia-keys.so ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Registering GsdMediaKeysPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Creating object of type GsdMediaKeysPlugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: GsdMediaKeysPlugin initializing ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Activating media_keys plugin ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Starting media_keys manager ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Not a valid shortcut: '' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Not a valid shortcut: '' ** (gnome-settings-daemon:11714): DEBUG: Not a valid shortcut: '' [1237455585,000,xklavier.c:xkl_engine_start_listen/] The backend does not require manual layout management - but it is provided by the applicationCould not initialize GStreamer: Error re-scanning registry , child terminated by signal [/code]