Processor/Motherboard Switching

[TheNewOsiris]

I have currently compiled my system for the (32 bit X86) Pentium 4 processor.
However I might get a new motherboard with a (64 bit AMD64) Athlon 3000 cpu.
Will there be a problem running the 32-bit applications compiled for the X86 architecture on a 64-bit AMD64 architecture.
If there are problems how can they be avoided/solved.
What the general procedure for executing these kids of CPU changes.

Thanks in advance.

[vaxbrat]

While it would be best to start with a new stage on a fresh partition, your 64 bit hardware should be able to emulate 32 bit mode enought to get you bootstrapped. Before attempting, you should backup what you want to keep around in case you need to nuke everything (ie /home).

You might want to pull xdm, gdm or kdm (whatever you use) out of your startup to disable Xwindows until everything is up to speed.

Change your /etc/make.conf to reflect your new arch (CFLAGS, CHOST and USE flags)

Change your /etc/make.profile softlink to reflect your new arch.

Do an emerge -eN system
Do a second emerge -eN system to have the new toolchain rebuild itself and otherwise ensure sanity

If you feel really daring, you might try a reboot now.

Do an emerge -eN world

Cross your fingers and reboot.

If it all goes to hell in a handbasket, you can try booting a livecd of the new arch, saving your /etc contents somewhere and then playing a stage tarball right on top of root. Then put your /etc back and repeat the above emerge tapdance.

[desultory]