The details above didn't fix my problem, but I ended up deleting the existing nm-applet config from there and it got readded automatically (so far as I could tell) and that seemed to solve my issue.
-- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to gnome-session in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/972785 Title: Unable to add new startup applications Status in “gnome-session” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: When attempting to add a program to start on boot, it isn't saved when it should be. To reproduce: 1. Go to the gear/power menu thing at the top-right 2. Select Startup Applications (or whatever it actually says in en) 3. Add a new program 3.1. Fill out the three boxes with something you want 4. Note that your program has been added to the list of startup programs 5. Close that window 6. Open it again 7. Note that your program is no longer there 8. Reboot 9. Note that your program doesn't start up. Expected results: 7. Your program is there. 9. Your program starts up. Notes: * Whether or not you perform steps 6-7, the result of 9 is not affected. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04 Package: gnome-session-bin 3.2.1-0ubuntu6 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-21.34-generic 3.2.13 Uname: Linux 3.2.0-21-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia ApportVersion: 2.0-0ubuntu2 Architecture: amd64 Date: Wed Apr 4 07:44:44 2012 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release amd64 (20101007) SourcePackage: gnome-session UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-03-16 (18 days ago) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-session/+bug/972785/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp