I've been trying to compile a kernel for a x86_64 Turion laptop, using the vanilla kernels.

What I've found is that I can't seem to set the 64 bit options within "make menuconfig", even when I do "make mrproper".

I've tried using a .config with the 64 bit settings in place already, but when I type "make menuconfig" in the source tree with this .config, the options don't come up at all!

The trouble is that a .config listing, and the "make menuconfig" interface does seem to correspond quite so well. I mean why is "make menuconfig" so lame in that way?

i found when config gets weird that i can startx to get a GUI and run make xconfig to adjust my config settings and save, then i can kill x to get back to a CLI and finsh building the kernel...

i am using 2.4.34

one more item, Slamd64 is an unofficial port of Slackware made especially for 64 bit CPUs

http://www.slamd64.com/

Hi Okie, thanks for replies.

I haven't got X up and running yet, though it sounds like a bit of workaround if you don't mind my saying.

Yes, it's the slam64 .config I was using. I put it into the tree, but make menuconfig still gives me no options.

I'm seriously considering doing it manually with vi. I don't understand make menuconfig at all.

Many thanks!

The following is from Debian and for 2.6.19.1, but hopefully it will be the same. I apologise if I'm not understanding correctly what you mean when you say that menuconfig doesn't give you any options.

In make menuconfig, try using the keyboard up/down arrows and highlight the "Processor type and features line" and press enter. Then highlight "Processor family (may say something in parens)" and press enter. Now, highlight "Opteron/Athlon64/Hammer/K8" and press enter. At least, that's the one that looks like it's the 64 bit processor, to me.

The left and right arrows are used to highlight either "Select", "Exit", or "Help" at the bottom. Once you've made your config changes, select as many "Exit" as you need to reach the point where it asks you whether you want to save your new kernel configuration. Use the left/right arrow to select "Yes" and then press enter.

Also, pressing the escape button twice moves you back a menu, but it doesn't throw away any changes you made, so be wary of that.

Hi Quakeboy02,

Thanks for the help. Yes I do know how to use make menuconfig alright, and you've outlined the reasons why I use it ... it's quite easy and intuitive.

However it doesn't have a good direct correspondance to .config, and you can't search inside it either.

The athlon64 option you mentioned already, I've tried it, but it at the ned it still drops the compressed kernel image into i386, and not ia64, so I'm led to think that it's not the right option.

I'm going to do it manually I think now.

Cheers!

I'm hoping you can do this is slackware as well. Have you tried "make oldconfig" before running "make menuconfig". It will use your old .config settings and query for settings on new options. It will also parse your original .config file and point out problems with it. Sort of like running testparm to check changes in smb.conf.

"The athlon64 option you mentioned already, I've tried it, but it at the ned it still drops the compressed kernel image into i386,"

This is probably just flat out WRONG, but do you need the cross_compile and arch options in your make statement? Here's something I just found:

> Compile 64 bit kernel:
> #make ARCH=x86_64 CROSS_COMPILE=x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-
> #make ARCH=x86_64 CROSS_COMPILE=x86_64-pc-linux-gnu- modules_install

From: http://www.mail-archive.com/gentoo-a.../msg03713.html