On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 05:50:53PM -0500, Travers Buda wrote:

quoted text
> * Stuart Henderson  [2008-05-27 21:52:43]:

>

> > On 2008-05-27, Travers Buda  wrote:

> > > Using xargs and tar -t (as someone posted) is probably the best

> > > method, short of just re-installing.

> >

> > $DEITY no, look at the file list of xbase, for example.

> >

>

> Err yeah, you're right--very bad idea.

>

> ./etc

> ./etc/X11

> ./etc/X11/app-defaults

My recommendation was plain rm, without -rf.  Viz:
   # cd /

   # tar tzf /path/to/xbase43.tgz | xargs rm
I believe it to be safe.  It will leave some directories in place, but won't

remove anything it's not supposed to.
In any case, for a test system as the OP has, reinstalling is probably faster

and easier.