Hi,

I'm new to linux and I'm trying to install Gentoo by following the manual. I have an Opteron processor and decided to download the AMD64 version of Gentoo. The install file on Gentoo.org for AMD64 tells me everything I need to do, and I followed it all. But when it comes to the part after I extracted the stage2-AMD64.tar.bz2 file and the manual tells me to enter the Linux environment by chrooting into it. So I typed the command it told me to

# chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash

And when I type that, heres the message I get:

Exec Format error

What does that mean??? How am I supposed to get my 64-bit Linux to work if I can't do that step? I need to know how to fix it, FAST. Thanks

the command looks okay... double check the syntex... and make sure /bin/bash exists...

also try posting on the gentoo bords they may be a bit unfriendly, but they will help

sorri i cant help any more... stick with it... gentoo takes an age to install, but once its on... it runs faster then.... somthing... REALLLLYY fast...

send me a link this board, it sparks a curiosity

Hello. I have the same problem with a Dell PowerEdge SC1425 with 1 Xeon 2.8GHz 800MHz 1Mb L2 cache.



This is with Gentoo LiveCD x86 2005.0 .

I cannot use another LiveCD (2004.3, x86 or AMD64) 'cause no one detect coorectly my SCSI-RAID Adapter

Looking at the date of your post, I hope you got the help you needed before now.

I have to start out by saying that I ran across your post while I was looking for a solution to this myself. I don't know for a fact that this is right, but it makes sense to me so I though I'd share it. I have done several gentoo installs recently, and have made it through the "CHROOT" step without a hitch each time........... EXCEPT when I boot from gentoo live cd (min or universal) and try to do a stage 1 install for my AMD64 box.

I'm pretty sure it's because the system is booted from a 32 bit kernel, and operating in a 32 bit system, in root (/). However the files that are installed from the stage 1 tarball for AMD64/ Opteron are 64 bit files. Therefore the command chokes /bin/bash part of the command because it can't execute it.

I looked at the the two bash files and compared them (/bin/bash and /mnt/gentoo/bin/bash) and they are different files. Also if you rename /mnt/gentoo/bin/bash to something else and copy in the bash file from /bin/bash the chroot command works just fine.

I'm not recommending the rename and copy as a fix, because if what I'm saying is correct I'm not sure the 32 bit system would properly compile the rest of the install (anyone out there know if that's true?). However, you can get a 64bit install cd that sails through the install with the stage 3 directions (network less install), although I have had some issues emerging GCC-3.4 with it.

Good luck, let me know if something works for you.