hi all,
after a system crash (no response, i had to press the power button) evolution invokes the configuration wizard every time it starts, but i beleive all files are in place (~.evolution/mail/local and ~.gconf/apps/evolution).
what can i do to repair the config? will i destroy anything when i setup my accounts again? when i re-setup my mail accounts, will evolution reuse the folders and show my old mails again, or will they be erased?
TIA,
bye,
yai.

oh, i forgot: .gvfs is empty, and 'ls -a' is correct when executed with my user's account but gives
?????????? ? ? ? ? ? .gvfs
when exececuted by root.

I had something similar a couple of months back and (seemingly) lost a bucket load of mail - fortunately I had a (week old) backup. After much frustration trying to fix it I tossed evolution and now use claws. Was able to import all the folders and get on with life. No mail lost (in claws) even though evolution wouldn't recognise (some of) its own folders ...

If you are using imap for your mail then you shouldn't lose any messages in any folders if you do a reinstall. This is one of the reasons I prefer imap, even when on my own mail server. You can blow away the entire ~/.evolution directory and you will still have your mail. You lose your addressbook, though, so make sure you mack up everything once you get a working setup.

BTW, evolution has its own utilities (which seem to be something the developers like to keep secret).
$ rpm -ql evolution
...
/usr/libexec/evolution/2.30/evolution-addressbook-export
/usr/libexec/evolution/2.30/evolution-alarm-notify
/usr/libexec/evolution/2.30/evolution-backup
/usr/libexec/evolution/2.30/killev
...

The addressbook-export and backup tools have come in very handy, especially for moving a configuration from one system to another.

P.S. I do not believe that it is helpful to to post a response to a question about a specific application or program which says to just switch to some other application or program. There's nothing wrong with suggesting alternative options after providing a solution or workaround to get the original app/utility fixed or working. This is, of course, my own personal opinion.

Where did I suggest that ?.
I gave my experience, and my resolution after Evolution proved inadequate. I happen to believe people should have as many (useable) options as possible.
Then the OP can decide on their own way forward.

You didn't. I wasn't talking about your reply specifically. It just reminded me that, many times, others post responses of the "that sucks; use this" kind. I should have been more clear about it.

My apologies.