Can I uninstall all flavours of Gnome and not lose files/preferences?

I have XFCE installed already alongside various flavours of Gnome.

To clarify, Gnome was the first one or suite that was installed and XFCE came around later

you are not going to lose files in $HOME, whatever software you uninstall.
that includes any DE's config files.

Does anyone know how to completely remove it? I've tried searching for this and gotten discrepant answers

how to 100% remove all and EVERYTHING associated with Gnome3

you really do not
now 90% of it easy

just uninstall that desktop manager and if gdm is used switch to xdm or kdm for loging in

now some OS's are VERY gnome centric like Fedora
you will NEED some of it installed

debian is not as bad but some gnome gtk tools ARE GREAT

Originally Posted by annadane Does anyone know how to completely remove it? I've tried searching for this and gotten discrepant answers

probably easier to create a new user and start from scratch.
however, linux desktop environments are intertwined and if you remove EVERYTHING gnome, you will also remove settings important for other apps/DEs.

why do you think you need to do this?

this is starting to look like an x-y-problem to me.