Git Status: fatal: index file open failed: Invalid argument within cmd.exe

Question

Environment Data:

Git Version: 1.8.4
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional

I am running into an issue where I am attempting to issue a Git Status using the options --work-tree and --git-dir inside cmd.exe

When I run the following:

git --work-tree=E:\Workspaces\company --git-dir=E:\Workspaces\company\.git status

I receive the following:

fatal: index file open failed: Invalid argument

If I swap the status for a fetch then everything works flawlessly. The status however refuses to run within cmd.exe

If I run the command, modified slightly work within msysGit pathing expectations, it executes properly.

git --work-tree=/e/Workspaces/company --git-dir=/e/Workspaces/company/.git status

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

4

Maybe your first one would work if you escape your backslashes:

git --work-tree=E:\\Workspaces\\company --git-dir=E:\\Workspaces\\company\\.git status

UPDATE

I got it, try this:

git --work-tree="E:\Workspaces\company" --git-dir="E:\Workspaces\company\.git" status

I tried this and it worked for me. My directory even had spaces in it :-)

REAL UPDATE

It seems this is a regression that was introduced in 1.8.4 and you may have to downgrade to 1.8.3 for now until it is fixed and 1.8.5 is released. Or use bash in the meantime.

Here is a reference: https://stackoverflow.com/a/19511402/329928

And here is the issue on GitHub:

Tvangeste found that the "relative_path" function could not work properly on Windows if "in" and "prefix" have DOS drive prefix (such as "C:/windows").

E.g., When execute: test-path-utils, relative_path "C:/a/b" "D:/x/y" should return "C:/a/b", but returns "../../C:/a/b", which is wrong.

So make relative_path honor DOS drive prefix.

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

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answered Dec 17, 2013 at 19:05

Chris Leyva

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6 Comments

bitmvr Over a year ago

Chris, This does't resolve the problem. I have tried this once before thinking the same thing. However, the fact that it works with FETCH nullifies this logic.

Chris Leyva Over a year ago

But it works with forward slashes, you say? git --work-tree=/e/Workspaces/company --git-dir=/e/Workspaces/company/.git status

bitmvr Over a year ago

Inside msysGit it does which interprets the input from shell quite differently.

Chris Leyva Over a year ago

Hey @JesseRiddle, I was able to get it to work for me by using double quotes.

bitmvr Over a year ago

C:\Users\jzr>git --work-tree="E:\Workspaces\company" --git-dir="E:\Workspaces\company\.git" status fatal: index file open failed: Invalid argument

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Bukenya KizzaRoland · Accepted Answer · 2024-03-20 18:12:39Z

0

Just create a new folder and paste your files there Re add the remote origin and it should push well for you

answered Mar 20, 2024 at 18:12

Bukenya KizzaRoland

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