FC7 problems, screen lock, log out, mail notification
 

Hi

I'm running...
[@localhost ~]$ uname -r
2.6.21-1.3194.fc7
on a DELL Optiplex 745, intel Core2duo with a gnome desktop.

Something happened, can't remember what but I probably installed something, and things don't work like they used to e.g.

The email notification, which I had sent to visual alert and sound caused thunderbird to hang so I had to switch it off.

The screen lock won't come on from the timer or from the menus or by running
[@localhost ~]$ gnome-screensaver-command --lock
** Message: Screensaver is not running!

While I was looking for a solution to the screen lock I tried to log out, it said 'you will be logged out in 60 seconds' but it didn't logout. Can't remember what it said after that possibly not responding do you want to wait or force quit, I've been getting a few of them.

So has anyone an idea on what I've done?
What happens if I use the package manager to uninstall / reinstall elements of the gnome desktop while I'm running the genome desk top? and if I can do that, which packages should I try first?
As I can't log out, if I force the machine into a reboot with the installation disk in can I get it to install only genome desktop and will it overwrite the old copy?

Thanks for your opinions/advice.

I got the screen saver working with
[@localhost ~]$ gnome-screensaver

When I tried to log out it does nothing. So I click the X in the top right corner and it says 'not responding wait or force quit'. After a force quite it says...
The panel encountered a problem while loading "OAFIID:GNOME_MixerApplet".
Do i want to delete it? no. Then...
The panel encountered a problem while loading "OAFIID:GNOME_Panel_TrashApplet".
Do i want to delete it? no.

I googled "OAFIID:GNOME_MixerApplet" and it said reinstall "gnome-applets" but according to my package manager it wasn't installed so installed it.

Now if I try to log out the screen shudders then stays logged in!?