Description of problem: The Fedora 15 metacity attempts to determine the key immediately above the Tab key, by querying the X server for the keyboard geometry. If this query fails for any reason, then metacity ends up dereferencing a null pointer, and crashes (logging the user out). Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): 2.34.0-1.fc15 NB: This problem was not present in metacity 2.30 which doesn't attempt this query at all. (The file 'above-tab-keycode.c' is new with v2.34) How reproducible: Problem experienced when using Hummingbird Exceed (running under Windows 7), connecting to a Linux server running Fedora 15 Steps to Reproduce: 1. Log in using the Gnome desktop environment (via Windows/Exceed) Actual results: "Oh, No!" black error screen Application 'metacity.desktop' killed by signal App 'metacity.desktop' respawning too quickly logged in .xsession-errors file Display returns to XDMCP list of available servers Expected results: Gnome desktop environment Additional info: The crash is triggered at line 80 of above-tab-keyboard.c (geometry = keyboard->geom), by referencing the 'keyboard' pointer without checking for it being NULL. A simple fix is attached, defaulting to assuming this is key code XK_grave This bug has been reported upstream (as Gnome bug #649370)
Created attachment 496786 [details] Simple fix
Also as upstream bug 647777, which is fixed. Backport to F15 please? This bug is rendering F15 unusable here with a portable Xvnc that lacks XKB.
I've tested the mentioned two line fix with the package currently in F15 and it seems to solve the issue nicely.
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