[CentOS] [FIXED] Centos 5.7--desktop icons are now a blank sheet of paper with the .desktop filename and they don't work

Wed Feb 15 16:40:16 UTC 2012
fred smith <fredex at fcshome.stoneham.ma.us>

On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 09:40:13AM -0500, Daniel J Walsh wrote:
> On 02/09/2012 05:06 PM, fred smith wrote:
> > 
> > new info, see below...
> > 
> > On Wed, Nov 16, 2011 at 08:31:17PM -0500, fred smith wrote:
> >> On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 08:45:48PM -0500, fred smith wrote:
> >>> On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 11:22:32AM +0100, Ljubomir Ljubojevic
> >>> wrote:
> >>>> Vreme: 11/15/2011 03:25 AM, fred smith piše:
> >>>> 
> >>>>> note that the Desktop folder contains a subdirectory named
> >>>>> "radio stations", and that its representation on the
> >>>>> desktop looks correct. but when I click on it to open up
> >>>>> that folder, all its contents are also broken in the same
> >>>>> way.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Anybody got any clues?
> >>>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> First remove all spaces from folder(s) and desktop files.
> >>>> 
> >>>> Next, there was some trick when you create your own desktop
> >>>> files, I was receiving similar warning, but I am not sure (at
> >>>> the moment) what was the solution. While you change names, I
> >>>> will later on look for a solution.
> >>> 
> >>> Tried removing spaces. makes no difference.
> >>> 
> >>> did a reboot with forced fsck, on the off-chance that would fix
> >>> something. no such luck.
> >>> 
> >>> created a whole new user, who CAN create working desktop
> >>> launchers. which tells me it's something in my own login
> >>> environment that's messing me up. Wonder what that might
> >>> be....
> >> 
> >> Well, it's fixed. I know the solution, if not the cause: in my
> >> home directory, cd to .local/share/mime, delete (or rename) the 
> >> "globs" file. log off, log on. voila.
> >> 
> >> I note that the globs file in that location is not the same size
> >> as the one in /usr/share/mime globs, which is also no the same
> >> size as the one in /usr/local/share/mime/globs. I have no CLUE
> >> how it gets generated (unless update-mime-database does it, but I
> >> don't know when or by what agency it gets run.) but after
> >> rebooting it has not been regenerated, but at least my desktop
> >> launchers now work. I note that /usr/share/mime/globs contains:
> >> 
> >> application/x-desktop:*.desktop
> >> 
> >> and that the globs file I renamed in ~/.local/share/mime does not
> >> contain such a line. without doing further spelunking, I can only
> >> guess that it is the absence of that line that broke my desktop.
> >> 
> >> Wonder how the file could have become broken/corrupted? is there
> >> a more correct method of "fixing" it?
> > 
> > So, this afternoon a single update came down, a new selinux policy
> > file. after installing that update, the problem (described above)
> > recurred. So, it's some kind of selinux(-related) issue.
> > 
> > If any of you have any further thoughts on this I'd like to hear
> > them.
> > 
> > thanks!
> > 
> > Fred
> 
> 
> I would relabel your system
> 
> touch /.autorelabel; reboot
> 
> And I would bet that fixes your problem.

I'm not sure that it did. I did what you suggest. rebooted then reinserted
the glob file (I'd saved it under a different name). it immediately seemed
to be still working, but the next day the problem started occurring again,
without having installed any other updates.

Fred
-- 
---- Fred Smith -- fredex at fcshome.stoneham.ma.us -----------------------------
  "For him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his 
 glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior
 be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before
                     all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
----------------------------- Jude 1:24,25 (niv) -----------------------------