Error message: DT messaging system could not be started (tooltalk) (Doc ID 1006059.1)

Symptoms

This document provides possible solutions and things to check pertaining to the following error message observed during CDE session startup:

The DT messaging system could not be started.

While there exist scenarios where the issue is not fatal, the user typically gets dropped back to the dtgreet screen. In the nonfatal scenarios, the user will not be able to run ToolTalk[TM]-aware applications.

On some poorly patched systems, the user might get a dysfunct earlier version of the same message box: dtwm starts up ok in the sense that the front panel appears, and the backdrop appears. However, the mouse pointer, instead of being an arrow, is a NO-Entry sign, and there is a Motif warning dialog with an OK button that appears in the middle of the screen. [The Motif warning dialog already pops up before the backdrop appears.] The Warning dialog is a box with an Exclamation mark in it. THERE IS NO TEXTUAL MESSAGE visible.

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The only thing the user can do is hit the OK button on that warning dialog.

Cause