Peter, You write, "I have used -print-search-dirs and find that the location where gcc looks for its executables seems to be the same place where cpp0 is located, except for the '/opt/' at the start of the path name - I assume this might be a gcc method of defining the root directory?" Your computer probably expects cpp0 to live somewhere in the /opt partition. If "/opt" begins the name of the path that the computer is following, /opt would be a root. Bill ________________________________________________________________ "Pro-choice?" Then click here. http://cathinsight.com/morality/saying.htm "Catholics who remain faithful to Tradition, even if they are reduced to but a handful, they are THE TRUE CHURCH" --St. Athanasius, AD 373