Can I just back up my /etc, untar the .tgz files, and restore /etc as
necessary?  How much has changed in the binaries like base.tgz?

Would I be able to get away with just untarring the new kernel and 
rebooting?

Thanks

// Erik Huizing huizing@cpsc.ucalgary.ca 
// www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~huizing