can't start gnome 0.20 panel in RH5.1

[augenbau erols com]

 I just installed RH5.1 along with the 
nonsecurity errata. I then installed gnome v0.20 along with the 
required support rpms. When I try to start the gnome panel I get the 
following error message after the panel flashes on then off.

debug: need old_cfg
started applet, pid xxx
address.cc:437 assertion failed
Aborted (core dumped)

* ERROR ** could not communicate with the panel

I tried this in both 16 bit and 24 bit mode and had the same problem.
I'm running XFREE with a matrox millenium 4MB card on a P133 system.

Also, I installed the same software on my machine P166 at work 
with different graphics card and it works fine.
 
Thanks for any help.
Jeff

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Jeffrey Augenbaum
augenbau@erols.com