[syslinux] "Cannot execute binary file" with several distros

[H. Peter Anvin]

Nazo wrote:
> Lately I've been finding that most versions of Syslinux no longer work
> in the various linux distros I use them in (primarily Mandriva 2006
> and Finnix.)  When I try to run binaries such as the extlinux it
> produces the error "bash: ./extlinux/extlinux: cannot execute binary
> file" which it says for each of the major binaries.  As nearly as I
> can tell, everything but the scripts in fact.  At first I thought the
> problem was on the side of the distro (and it may technically be in
> some ways) but the fact that it has happened in more than one makes me
> wonder about that.  In the case of things like Mandriva I can just
> simply recompile, no big deal, but, in the case of live distros like
> Finnix I'm simply stuck.  They usually come with an old version of
> Syslinux, but, as I said, it's an old version.  Also, they seem to
> neglect to include other stuff such as extlinux in some cases or the
> standard com32 files in most cases (I'm addicted to menu.c32 and its
> simplicity.)
> 
> Any idea what is causing the problem and what, if anything, I can do
> to get it working in my rescue disc where I can't rebuild it but can't
> use Mandriva libraries either?
> 

It would be caused by a library version mismatch.  The distribution 
should have rebuilt the appropriate the files to match their libraries. 
  That is what "make installer" does (see distrib.doc).

	-hpa