gcc: "cannot create executables" (confused now)

[brendon <bren@europe.nl.com>]

>when attempting to compile a program i receive the following error message:
>
>checking whether the C++ compiler (c++  ) works... no    
>configure: error: installation or configuration problem: C++ compiler cannot 
>create executables.
>
>when doing a ./configure on licq in /usr/local/src/licq-xxxx after su-ing to 
>root. 

just did an apt-get install on gcc & g++ so i presumed they weren't installed 
however it seems they were ("unpacking replacement.....") urgh!

so i still have a prob, even after installing the latest versions of the two 
i receive the same error message.