Sorry it took me so long to send you this.  Please find the traceback output attached and inserted below; this time with the debugger packages also installed.  I get this on 3 separate computers running kde_3.5.10 over karmic.

[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[KCrash handler]
#6  KBackgroundManager (this=0x8de3210, desktop=0x0, kwinModule=0x8dc2580,
    __in_chrg=<value optimized out>, __vtt_parm=<value optimized out>)
    at /build/buildd/kdebase-kde3-3.5.10/./kdesktop/bgmanager.cc:68
#7  0x0349db32 in KDesktop::initRoot (this=0xbf9cb298)
    at /build/buildd/kdebase-kde3-3.5.10/./kdesktop/desktop.cc:239
#8  0x0349e1a5 in KDesktop (this=0xbf9cb298, x_root_hack=false,
    wait_for_kded=false, __in_chrg=<value optimized out>,
    __vtt_parm=<value optimized out>)
    at /build/buildd/kdebase-kde3-3.5.10/./kdesktop/desktop.cc:194
#9  0x0349f40a in kdemain (argc=1, argv=0x8d78098)
    at /build/buildd/kdebase-kde3-3.5.10/./kdesktop/main.cc:208
#10 0x004244d4 in kdeinitmain (argc=1, argv=0x8d78098) at kdesktop_dummy.cc:3
#11 0x0804ee24 in launch (argc=<value optimized out>,
    _name=<value optimized out>, args=0xbf9cb6d4 "", cwd=0x0, envc=0,
    envs=0x8d77d39 "", reset_env=false, tty=0x0, avoid_loops=false,
    startup_id_str=0x805130d "0")
    at /build/buildd/kdelibs-kde3-3.5.10/./kinit/kinit.cpp:673
#12 0x0804f915 in handle_launcher_request (sock=9)
    at /build/buildd/kdelibs-kde3-3.5.10/./kinit/kinit.cpp:1240
#13 0x0805001e in handle_requests (waitForPid=<value optimized out>)
    at /build/buildd/kdelibs-kde3-3.5.10/./kinit/kinit.cpp:1443
#14 0x080509c0 in main (argc=5, argv=0xbf9cbc64, envp=0xbf9cbc7c)
    at /build/buildd/kdelibs-kde3-3.5.10/./kinit/kinit.cpp:1908


On Wed, 2009-12-02 at 15:52 -0600, Timothy Pearson wrote: 
On Wed, December 2, 2009 3:00 pm, James D. Freels wrote:
> I am using kde-3.5 from this PPA on karmic/koala (9.10) for amd64.  I
> upgraded from jaunty (9.04).  I also have a i386 laptop and i386 desktop
> with this same error.
>
> There were lots of problems with the upgrade, including some in the
> kde-3.5 area.  However, most of my problems have been resolved one way
> or another.  However, I have a nagging problem that I cannot seem to
> resolve.  I have 3 separate machines all with this same problem.
>
> when kde3.5 starts up, an error message box comes up with a traceback
> (attached is an example).  The desktop is not configurable, but I can
> use all my virtual desktops and the panel otherwise.  I cannot set a
> screensaver, background, or any response from the right click on the
> desktop screen.
>
> How can I fix this problem ?  I have already removed all the kde4
> packages that I can from my system (at least that I am aware of).
>
> [Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
> [KCrash handler]
> #6  0x00db7ccc in KBackgroundManager::KBackgroundManager(QWidget*,
> KWinModule*) () from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdeinit_kdesktop.so
> #7  0x00dbeb32 in KDesktop::initRoot() ()
> from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdeinit_kdesktop.so
> #8  0x00dbf1a5 in KDesktop::KDesktop(bool, bool) ()
> from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdeinit_kdesktop.so
> #9  0x00dc040a in kdemain () from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdeinit_kdesktop.so
> #10 0x00ea64d4 in kdeinitmain () from /opt/kde3/lib/kde3/kdesktop.so
> #11 0x0804ee24 in ?? ()
> #12 0x0804f915 in ?? ()
> #13 0x0805001e in ?? ()
> #14 0x080509c0 in ?? ()
> #15 0x001ddb56 in __libc_start_main (main=0x8050120, argc=5,
> ubp_av=0xbfbc3f34, init=0x80510b0, fini=0x80510a0, rtld_fini=0xf3bd20
> <_dl_fini>, stack_end=0xbfbc3f2c) at libc-start.c:220
> #16 0x0804ba51 in ?? ()
>
>
>
> James D. Freels
> freelsjd@gmail.com
>

Can you install the debugging symbols (kdebase-kde3-dbg and
kdelibs-kde3-dbg) and post the new backtrace?

Thanks!

Tim


James D. Freels
freelsjd@gmail.com
http://www.comsol.com/industry/htmlpaper/oakridge_nuclear_safety_related_procedures/