cannot execute binary file and weird su issue.

[Neil-3.14159]

I'm running Raspbian on a B+ and encountering the following issues.

1) Several basic linux tools don't want to run:
~> top
-bash: /usr/bin/top: cannot execute binary file


# mtr yahoo.com
-su: /usr/bin/mtr: cannot execute binary file

(Note the second example is as root to rule out a perms issue.)

2) I can 'su' to root, but if I try to 'su -l' I get the following:
~> su -l
Password:
-su: $'\355\201': command not found
root@raspberrypi:~#

(As you can see, I do get root, but what's that error? I've checked my .bashrc file and .bash_alias and can't find that 355/201 reference. In fact I've grepped my / directory and can't find 355 at all, so I'm stumped.)

[AndrewS]

Sounds like something on your SD card is hosed (possible corruption?)
You might have to reformat and start again...

[Neil-3.14159]

ugggh. This will be the 4th time in as many weeks. <insert long-winded rant about the B+ and self destructing OS>

[AndrewS]

Maybe you've just got a really unreliable SD card or PSU?

I assume you're doing the proper shutdown, and not just yanking out power?

[Neil-3.14159]

Second mem card too. For this third go round I bought a new card. As for shut down, I've only rebooted this with the reboot command, never pulled the plug at all.

[Richard-TX]

Get a good SD card. I yank power on Rpis all the time without a "proper shutdown". I have been doing it for over a year and a half and on a daily basis. Haven't lost a card or had any corruption since I switched to Toshiba Exceria cards.