gnome-terminal (and other gnome apps) fail to start, but used to

[Chris G]

I have just rebooted my machine (trying to diagnose something else)
and now I'm finding that gnome-terminal sometimes fails to start.

In fact after starting two or three gnome-terminals no more will
start.  I run fvwm2 with a collection of 5 or so gnome-terminals that
are automatically started, it comes up with two or three and then
won't run any more.

Running "gnome-terminal" from the command line just hangs, no
diagnostics, nothing.  Similarly for gnome-panel.  Other terminals
(xterm etc.) run OK.

I've not changed anything on the system for quite a while, no updates
or anything.  I've tried removing and re-installing gnome-terminal, no
help.


So, where should I be looking for a cause, how can I diagnose it?

-- 
Chris Green