Can't compile: crt.o doesn't exsist?

[Ben Rockwood]

Help!?!  I've installed several diffrent 
distrobutions of Linux and had this problem
on several diffrent ones... right out of the
box! (well, ftp install)

I try to compile something like imlib, gtk+,
glib (not glibc) or fnlib and the configure
script tells me that gcc can't compile executable
and then spits this out into the config.log:
configure:1022: checking for gcc
configure:1135: checking whether the C compiler (gcc  ) works
configure:1151: gcc -o conftest    conftest.c  1>&5
ld: cannot open crt1.o: No such file or directory
configure: failed program was:

#line 1146 "configure"
#include "confdefs.h"

main(){return(0);}
[root@pris glib-1.2.3]# 


	What's going on, or what am I doing wrong?!

	Thank you VERY much for any help!!!!
	benr.