I'm running arch linux, here's the output of tex --version:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
TeX 3.1415926 (TeX Live 2012/dev/Arch Linux)
kpathsea version 6.0.2dev
Copyright 2011 D.E. Knuth.
There is NO warranty.  Redistribution of this software is
covered by the terms of both the TeX copyright and
the Lesser GNU General Public License.
For more information about these matters, see the file
named COPYING and the TeX source.
Primary author of TeX: D.E. Knuth.
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

$ kpsewhich preview.sty
~/texmf/tex/latex/preview/preview.sty


Looking at this extract of region.log, one could think that preview.sty
is found:
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
CUSTOMISED FORMAT. Preloaded files:
        .
article.cls    2007/10/19 v1.4h Standard LaTeX document class
  size10.clo    2007/10/19 v1.4h Standard LaTeX file (size option)
   babel.sty    2008/07/06 v3.8l The Babel package
germanb.ldf    2008/06/01 v2.6m German support from the babel system
fontenc.sty
   t1enc.def    2005/09/27 v1.99g Standard LaTeX file
inputenc.sty    2008/03/30 v1.1d Input encoding file
  latin1.def    2008/03/30 v1.1d Input encoding file
preview.sty    2010/02/14 11.86 (AUCTeX/preview-latex)
prtightpage.def
prauctex.def
prauctex.cfg
prshowlabels.def
  t1cmtt.fd    1999/05/25 v2.5h Standard LaTeX font definitions
  t1cmss.fd    1999/05/25 v2.5h Standard LaTeX font definitions
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---


regarding my .emacs ­ I just run emacs -Q for the tests to avoid
interference with my config. All I do is:
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
(push "~/elisp" load-path)
(load "tex-site.el" nil t t)
(load "auctex.el" nil t t)
(load "preview-latex.el" nil t t)
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

I feel like I must have missed something obvious, it can hardly be so
difficult to get auctex installed in $HOME, especially as the manual
explicitly discusses the topic – further ideas and suggestions are
appreciated!

--
Philipp Haselwarter


_______________________________________________
auctex mailing list
auctex@gnu....
https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/auctex