Help cross-compiling with GCC on Windows

[longbyte1]

I have had the worst time compiling anything with GNU tools like GCC. Nothing ever really works, it's just one random error after another. I have reinstalled MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) countless times to no avail.

I'm following the tutorial on OSDev on compiling a cross-compiler. Make usually produces errors like "C compiler cannot create executables" or some random error that occurs from a file (but make usually stops whatever it's doing minutes after the error occurs, so I can't really figure out what the problem is). I don't understand why GCC can't make executables (it's a fresh install, yet it can't), nor do I understand why things don't just work for me when they work for everyone else. I followed the instructions on the tutorial exactly how they are written.

If anyone's a developer acquainted with GNU/Linux/*nix, then please post so that I can explain my woes in further detail and in less ambiguity.

(That means that if this sounds like gibberish to you, ignore.)