diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index 33763f9da..aa728e3e2 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Further patches have been submitted by:
   Damien Durand <splinux25-at-gmail-dot-com>
   Charles Coffing <ccoffing-at-novell-dot-com>
   Mark Cave-Ayland <mark.cave-ayland-at-ilande-dot-co-dot-uk>
+  Richard W.M. Jones <rjones-at-redhat-dot-com>
 
   <...send a patch & get your name here...>
 
diff --git a/src/virtManager/engine.py b/src/virtManager/engine.py
index 0cb8fece6..906411b24 100644
--- a/src/virtManager/engine.py
+++ b/src/virtManager/engine.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from virtManager.console import vmmConsole
 from virtManager.asyncjob import vmmAsyncJob
 from virtManager.create import vmmCreate
 from virtManager.serialcon import vmmSerialConsole
+from virtManager.error import vmmErrorDialog
 
 class vmmEngine:
     def __init__(self, config):
@@ -66,21 +67,32 @@ class vmmEngine:
             conn = self.get_connection(uri, readOnly)
             self.show_manager(uri)
         except:
-            logging.error((("Unable to open connection to hypervisor URI '%s'") % str(uri)) + \
-                          ": " + str(sys.exc_info()[0]) + " " + str(sys.exc_info()[1]) + "\n" + \
-                          traceback.format_exc(sys.exc_info()[2]))
+            (type, value, stacktrace) = sys.exc_info ()
 
+            # Detailed error message, in English so it can be Googled.
+            details = \
+                    ("Unable to open connection to hypervisor URI '%s':\n" %
+                     str(uri)) + \
+                    str(type) + " " + str(value) + "\n" + \
+                    traceback.format_exc (stacktrace)
+            logging.error (details)
+
+            # Error dialog.
             if uri is None:
                 uri = "xen"
             if uri == "xen":
-                dg = gtk.MessageDialog(None, 0, gtk.MESSAGE_ERROR, gtk.BUTTONS_CLOSE,
-                                       _("Unable to open a connection to the Xen hypervisor/daemon.\n\n" + \
-                                         "Verify that:\n" + \
-                                         " - A Xen host kernel was booted\n" + \
-                                         " - The Xen service has been started\n"))
+                dg = vmmErrorDialog (None, 0, gtk.MESSAGE_ERROR,
+                                     gtk.BUTTONS_CLOSE,
+                                     _("Unable to open a connection to the Xen hypervisor/daemon.\n\n" +
+                                       "Verify that:\n" +
+                                       " - A Xen host kernel was booted\n" +
+                                       " - The Xen service has been started\n"),
+                                     details)
             else:
-                dg = gtk.MessageDialog(None, 0, gtk.MESSAGE_ERROR, gtk.BUTTONS_CLOSE,
-                                       _("Unable to open connection to hypervisor '%s'") % str(uri))
+                dg = vmmErrorDialog (None, 0, gtk.MESSAGE_ERROR,
+                                     gtk.BUTTONS_CLOSE,
+                                     _("Unable to open connection to hypervisor '%s'") % str(uri),
+                                     details)
             dg.set_title(_("Virtual Machine Manager Connection Failure"))
             dg.run()
             dg.hide()
@@ -135,7 +147,7 @@ class vmmEngine:
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
                 raise KeyboardInterrupt
             except:
-                logging.error(("Could not refresh connection %s" % (uri)) + str(sys.exc_info()[0]) + \
+                logging.error(("Could not refresh connection %s\n" % (uri)) + str(sys.exc_info()[0]) + \
                               " " + str(sys.exc_info()[1]) + "\n" + \
                               traceback.format_exc(sys.exc_info()[2]))
         return 1
diff --git a/src/virtManager/error.py b/src/virtManager/error.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5a9d6319d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtManager/error.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# Error dialog with extensible "details" button.
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2007 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+
+import gtk
+import gtk.glade
+import pango
+
+class vmmErrorDialog (gtk.MessageDialog):
+    def __init__ (self, parent=None, flags=0, type=gtk.MESSAGE_INFO,
+                  buttons=gtk.BUTTONS_NONE, message_format=None,
+                  message_details=None):
+        gtk.MessageDialog.__init__ (self,
+                                    parent, flags, type, buttons,
+                                    message_format)
+
+        if not message_details is None:
+            # Expander section with details.
+            expander = gtk.Expander (_("Details"))
+            buffer = gtk.TextBuffer ()
+            buffer.set_text (message_details)
+            sw = gtk.ScrolledWindow ()
+            sw.set_shadow_type (gtk.SHADOW_IN)
+            sw.set_size_request (-1, 240)
+            sw.set_policy (gtk.POLICY_AUTOMATIC, gtk.POLICY_AUTOMATIC)
+            details = gtk.TextView (buffer)
+            details.set_editable (False)
+            details.set_overwrite (False)
+            details.set_cursor_visible (False)
+            details.set_wrap_mode (gtk.WRAP_WORD)
+            sw.add (details)
+            details.show ()
+            expander.add (sw)
+            sw.show ()
+            self.vbox.pack_start (expander)
+            expander.show ()