Is the "Dual-target" MinGW-w64 not really a double target?

Question

When I try to compile a 32-bit program on a 64-bit host with MinGW-builds :

T:\mingw64>.\bin\g++ -m32 Test.cpp 

I get:

 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libstdc++.dll.a when searching for -lstdc++ t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libstdc++.a when searching for -lstdc++ t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0\libstdc++.a when searching for -lstdc++ t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libstdc++.dll.a when searching for -lstdc++ t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libstdc++.a when searching for -lstdc++ t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lstdc++ t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingw32.a when searching for -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmingw32.a when searching for -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingw32.a when searching for -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libgcc_s.a when searching for -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libgcc_s.a when searching for -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libgcc_s.a when searching for -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libgcc.a when searching for -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0\libgcc.a when searching for -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libgcc.a when searching for -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmoldname.a when searching for -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmoldname.a when searching for -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmoldname.a when searching for -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingwex.a when searching for -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmingwex.a when searching for -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingwex.a when searching for -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmsvcrt.a when searching for -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmsvcrt.a when searching for -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmsvcrt.a when searching for -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libadvapi32.a when searching for -ladvapi32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libadvapi32.a when searching for -ladvapi32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libadvapi32.a when searching for -ladvapi32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -ladvapi32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libshell32.a when searching for -lshell32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libshell32.a when searching for -lshell32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libshell32.a when searching for -lshell32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lshell32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libuser32.a when searching for -luser32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libuser32.a when searching for -luser32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libuser32.a when searching for -luser32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -luser32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libkernel32.a when searching for -lkernel32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libkernel32.a when searching for -lkernel32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libkernel32.a when searching for -lkernel32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lkernel32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libiconv.a when searching for -liconv t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libiconv.a when searching for -liconv t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libiconv.a when searching for -liconv t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -liconv t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingw32.a when searching for -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmingw32.a when searching for -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingw32.a when searching for -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmingw32 t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libgcc_s.a when searching for -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libgcc_s.a when searching for -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libgcc_s.a when searching for -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lgcc_s t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libgcc.a when searching for -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0\libgcc.a when searching for -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/libgcc.a when searching for -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lgcc t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmoldname.a when searching for -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmoldname.a when searching for -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmoldname.a when searching for -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmoldname t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingwex.a when searching for -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmingwex.a when searching for -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmingwex.a when searching for -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmingwex t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmsvcrt.a when searching for -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib\libmsvcrt.a when searching for -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: skipping incompatible t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/lib/libmsvcrt.a when searching for -lmsvcrt t:/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/4.8.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lmsvcrt collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status 

Similarly, when I try to compile a 64-bit program on a 32-bit host with MinGW-builds :

 T:\mingw32>.\bin\g++ -m64 Test.cpp 

I get:

 Test.cpp:1:0: sorry, unimplemented: 64-bit mode not compiled in #include <iostream> ^ 

Should MinGW assemblies be two-pin ?

What am I missing?

Answer 1

Although the General Use Instructions on the MinGW-w64 Wiki claims that the MinGW-builds project provides compilers with two targets, this is not entirely true. The SEH variants (which begin with GCC 4.8.0) are only unidirectional. You can verify this by looking at the directory structure of your distributions, that is, they contain only libraries with 64- or 32-bit addressing, but not both. In addition, this has recently been confirmed on the MinGW-build mailing list.

On the other hand, plain old SJLJ distributions are really double targets. If you get:

The application could not start correctly (0xc000007b). Click "OK" to close the application.

when running the 64-bit application created by these distributions, remember that 0xC000007B is the STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT code, which is good evidence that the 64-bit application is trying to load 32-bit DLLs. You probably added \bin to PATH , while you had to add \i686-w64-mingw32\lib64 for 64-bit applications to work properly.

Answer 2

For those who get this linker error on Linux using mingw, you are probably trying to build 32-bit binary with a 64-bit compiler with the -m32 flag or some other way.

To fix this problem, just compile with i686-w64-mingw32 instead of x86_64-w64-mingw32 .