cannot execute binary file: Exec format error 64bits

Question

I'm under Windows Linux Subsystem which works well on other computer.

I have a 64-bits file: ./ensembles.o: ELF 64-bit LSB relocatable, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped

uname -m: x86_64

I tried with the gcc compiler and the clang one, both loose.

Even this C code doesn't work:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#include "sac.h"
#include "type_ensemble.h"
#include "operations_ens.h"
int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
}

The error: -bash: ./ensembles.o: cannot execute binary file: Exec format error

My Makefile:

ensembles.o : ensembles.c sac.h type_ensemble.h operations_ens.h
    gcc -c ensembles.c
operation_ens.o : operations_ens.c operations_ens.h
    gcc -c operations_ens.c
sac.o : sac.c sac.h
    gcc -c sac.c
main: ensembles.o operation_ens.o sac.o
    gcc -o main ensembles.o operation_ens.o sac.o

You said you tried, but what exactly did you try? And what do you mean by "loose"? — melpomene, Oct 03 '18 at 08:12
I tried to execute the compiled program. `./ensembles.o`. I meant fail to compile it so it can be ran. — Izio, Oct 03 '18 at 08:13
`ensembles.o` is not a compiled program, it's an object file. — melpomene, Oct 03 '18 at 08:14
What exactly did you do with gcc and clang? Your question says you used them (somehow), but your comment says you simply ran `./ensembles.o`, which doesn't involve either. — melpomene, Oct 03 '18 at 08:15
OK, so you need to `make main` and run `./main`. Why are you trying to execute intermediate object files? — melpomene, Oct 03 '18 at 08:19
Use this to create makefile: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7815400/ — Biswapriyo, Oct 03 '18 at 18:09

Florian Weimer · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-03T08:20:46.737

1

A file of type ELF 64-bit LSB relocatable is a file of ELF type ET_REL, which is not directly executable. It's commonly called an object file or .o file, and it is an input file for the link editor.

You need to link it (either with the gcc or the ld command) to produce an executable. If you are invoking gcc, you must not pass options like -r or -c, or otherwise GCC will not produce an executable.

In the makefile you quote, only the first target will be executed by make because it is the default target. Try moving the rule for main to the beginning of the file, or add a rule

all: main

at the beginning. You can also invoke make main to request building the main file explicitly.

edited Oct 03 '18 at 08:20

answered Oct 03 '18 at 08:13

Florian Weimer

32,022
3
48
92

I understand now, but how to link all my Object files? – Izio Oct 03 '18 at 08:19
@Izio `gcc -o main ensembles.o operation_ens.o sac.o`, last line in your Makefile. – melpomene Oct 03 '18 at 08:20
@lzio Your executable is called `main`, but it is not built because of the way you have written the makefile. – Florian Weimer Oct 03 '18 at 08:21

cannot execute binary file: Exec format error 64bits

1 Answers1