Try the following: When a file ~/.gnome2/share/fonts/fonts.dir exists, move it out of the way (e.g. mv ~/.gnome2/share/fonts/fonts.dir ~/.gnome2-share-fonts-fonts.dir-gone) and see if xdvi works.
Try the following: When a file ~/.gnome2/ share/fonts/ fonts.dir exists, move it out of the way (e.g. mv ~/.gnome2/ share/fonts/ fonts.dir ~/.gnome2- share-fonts- fonts.dir- gone) and see if xdvi works.