>    tar --unlink -zxvpf base.tar.gz
> 
> This was the base snapshot for 1.3-ALPHA.  Tar did its stuff and seemed to
> untar everything without any problems.  However, now I cannot use any
> commands.  All commands come up with the same error message:
> 
>   Bad system call - core dumped

Since you don't say, I'm going to assume that you did not install a
1.3 ALPHA kernel.  When upgrading, ALWAYS install a new kernel before
upgrading commands and libraries.

-allen

-- 
              Allen Briggs - end killing - briggs@macbsd.com