I just did the following updates today on my computer. When I start the VO client it gets to the password/login prompt and then locks up the entire computer requiring me to powerdown the system.

Here's the updates I received today:

chromium-browser (2.0.172.0~svn20090325r12470-0ubuntu1~ucd1~intrepid) to 2.0.172.0~svn20090326r12573-0ubuntu1~ucd1~intrepid
icedtea6-plugin (6b12-0ubuntu6.1) to 6b12-0ubuntu6.4
libicu-dev (3.8.1-2) to 3.8.1-2ubuntu0.1
libicu38 (3.8.1-2) to 3.8.1-2ubuntu0.1
libxine1 (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
libxine1-bin (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
libxine1-console (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
libxine1-ffmpeg (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
libxine1-misc-plugins (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
libxine1-plugins (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
libxine1-x (1.1.15-0ubuntu3.1intrepid1) to 1.1.15-0ubuntu3.2
openjdk-6-jre (6b12-0ubuntu6.1) to 6b12-0ubuntu6.4
openjdk-6-jre-headless (6b12-0ubuntu6.1) to 6b12-0ubuntu6.4
openjdk-6-jre-lib (6b12-0ubuntu6.1) to 6b12-0ubuntu6.4

I just cut and pasted the entire thing, since I really don't know which one is causing the lockup.

Also, everything worked just fine prior to todays updates.

try to reinstall VO,
I also use Ubuntu 8.10 and its update I have no issues

Ok, I just booted into my Enlightenment desktop and it loaded just fine. Will try it again under Gnome and see if it locks up again.
Sigh..

Edit: Under Gnome VO locks up, but not under Englightenment so something must be odd with that. I'll reinstall tomorrow or something I guess. :( The only other thing I've changed in the VO client was enabling voice chat to test yesterday. I've edited the config.ini to disable that but I'm still getting a total system lockup with Gnome.

Have you tried logging in with SSH/etc. to make sure that it's not just X locking up?

Either way, 99.999% of the time something like this happens, it's the graphics drivers.

My system has been running fine rogue. No issues with video drivers, just the recent update hosed gnome somehow. The enlightenment desktop uses the same video driver btw. Anyways, I'll look into it more later.

Gnome under Ubuntu uses a composited desktop environment by default, which is a wee bit different than enlightenment. I'm still putting money that it's not anything in userspace locking up your system.

Has that turned off. (compiz) I'll trace the problem shortly, just been to lazy these past few days. I'll post when I find the issue.

Edit: I upgraded to 9.04 beta and that seems to have took care of the issue. Got me, but hey.. it's working fine.