RE: way to get selections _not_ in /var/lib/dpkg/*?

["Sean 'Shaleh' Perry" <shaleh@valinux.com>]

> 
> I have a system whose root partition died part way through an
> incremental backup cycle.  I'm afraid the "full" increment was spaced
> too far, because I'd made a number of changes to the system in the
> few days before the hard drive died (yes, I know, I should have done
> a full backup then.  I didn't have any more time for the machine then
> than I do now, though).  I _think_ the /var partition is still good
> (or good enough to get some data off, anyway), and that I might be
> able to get my package selections back more easily that way than from
> the incremental backups.  Will this work?
> 

let's see .....

/var/lib/dpkg/status.  Every package marked 'Status: install ok installed' is
installed.