Re: Emacs 'destroys' latex files

[Nikos Apostolakis]

Maarten Bergvelt <bergv@math.uiuc.edu> writes:
>
> The thing to do is first start emacs without customization:
>
> emacs -q latextest.tex
>
> Do you see the strange behaviour? If yes, then there is some
> systemwide customization, but I doubt that. 
>
> If no, then copy .emacs to .emacsold and start hacking on .emacs.
>

If yes then try

emacs -q -no-site-file latextest.tex

especialy since the OP runs Debian.  Usually part of the
installation of a Debian emacs package (like x-symbol that David
mentioned) is site-wide customization.

HTH
Nikos