Problems dumping database from 7.3.1

I've been using a PGSQL 7.3.1 system as my development box for some time, and so far, it worked fine. (This is running
onSlackware distro with a 2.2.19 kernel under VMWare 4) 

However, yesterday, I added a column to a base table (that is inherited by several other tables). Shortly afterwards,
wheneverI tried to access either the base table or child tables, I get the message saying that pgsql has lost
communicationwith the server. 

Assuming that I had stumbled across a bug, I decided to upgrade to 7.4.2. Before starting, I tried to do a pg_dump, and
itfailed. Again, it failed partway through, loosing the connection to the server. 

Below is the erorr I am getting

gtg@Vmware1:~$ pg_dump -f /tmp/sw4.sql -U postgres switchboards
pg_dump: connection not open
pg_dump: lost synchronization with server, resetting connection
pg_dump: SQL command to dump the contents of table "StaffMember" failed: PQendcopy() failed.
pg_dump: Error message from server: FATAL:  The database system is starting up

pg_dump: The command was: COPY public."StaffMember" ("Id", "ExDirectory", "Name", "JobTitle", "Title", "FirstName",
"MiddleInitial","LastName", "Status", "WelshSpeakingAbility", "JobTitleC", "OrgGroupID", "OtherNumber", "PostNumber",
"BandId","JobDescE", "JobDescW", "EMailAddr", "NDSObject", "SectionId", dnid) TO stdout; 
gtg@Vmware1:~$

The log file says that the server process was terminated by a signal 11, and it then restarts.


Any ideas as to how I can bring my database back to life ?

Thanks,

GTG

Gordon Ross,
Network Manager/Rheolwr Rhydwaith
Countryside Council for Wales/Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru