nonmetacity: gnome-2.8 startup "sticks" for 60 seconds on starting Window Manager

[Paul Johnson <pauljohn ku edu>]

I don't use metacity because it won't let me set separate images for 
separate workspaces. I use Window Maker.  In .Xclients, I have

export WINDOW_MANAGER=wmaker
exec gnome-session

Since I installed gnome 2.8, I find that the gnome startup stalls for a 
long time after the spash screen starts and it shows 1 icon and says it 
is loading the window manager.   Window Maker starts up and I can use 
its features and menus, but the gnome splash stays "stuck" there for 
about 60 seconds.  Then the panel pops up and gnome works OK.

I've monitored /var/log/messages when this is going on, and the only 
hint I see is this gconfd output.  Do you know what it means?

Oct 26 08:52:23 pols111 gconfd (pauljohn-3325): starting (version 
2.8.1), pid 3325 user 'pauljohn'
Oct 26 08:52:23 pols111 gconfd (pauljohn-3325): Resolved address 
"xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory" to a read-only 
configuration source at position 0
Oct 26 08:52:23 pols111 gconfd (pauljohn-3325): Resolved address 
"xml:readwrite:/home/pauljohn/.gconf" to a writable configuration source 
at position 1
Oct 26 08:52:23 pols111 gconfd (pauljohn-3325): Resolved address 
"xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults" to a read-only 
configuration source at position 2

--
Paul E. Johnson                       email: pauljohn ku edu
Dept. of Political Science            http://lark.cc.ku.edu/~pauljohn
1541 Lilac Lane, Rm 504
University of Kansas                  Office: (785) 864-9086
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-3177           FAX: (785) 864-5700