Not a solution, but with complete removal of Google Chrome using Synaptic (removal method recommended by Google on Chrome page) software update is now back to normal for me. >>uname -a includes: 3.2.0-4-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 3.2.60-1+deb7u3 x86_64 GNU/Linux >>gnome-shell --version: GNOME Shell 3.4.2 best regards,