Stuck on Git on Windows: Can't checkout, can't stash, can't commit

Question

I'm stuck... If I do git stash I get:

Fatal: Unable to create /index.lock: File exists. If no other git process is currently running, this probably means a git process crashed in this repository earlier. Make sure no other git process is running and remove the file manually to continue.

After manually removing index.lock, I get:

Rename from .git/index.lock to .git/index failed. Should I try again? (y/n)

git checkout master:

 Rename from .git/index.lock to .git/index failed. Should I try again? (y/n)

git commit via GitHub:

Unable to create a new commit

What can I do?

Consider using [sourcetree](http://www.sourcetreeapp.com/) - a free git client for Windows. — Burhan Khalid, Sep 20 '13 at 15:18
This should not happen anymore with Git 2.10 (Q3 2016). See http://stackoverflow.com/a/39159518/6309 — VonC, Aug 26 '16 at 06:18

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 20 '13 at 15:07

18

Solved it using the universal fix for all software problems: restarted the computer.

answered Sep 20 '13 at 15:07

luqita

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should read: "Solved it using the universal fix for all software problems *in Windows*: restarted the computer." – g19fanatic Sep 20 '13 at 17:14
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also: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7860751/git-fatal-unable-to-create-path-my-project-git-index-lock-file-exists – RASMiranda Feb 04 '14 at 13:05
Just start a new CMD terminal solved t for me. Thanks! – Zini Mar 01 '17 at 18:36

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 22 '16 at 02:16

4

It happens sometime to me on Windows.

Solution is simple: close Explorer windows.

answered Feb 22 '16 at 02:16

Hartok

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Or VS if folder opened using WSL – Hmmm Jan 11 '21 at 05:15

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 05 '15 at 01:45

3

A process certainly had the file locked. You can use Process Explorer from the SysInternals Suite to find which one : enter part of the path in > Find > Find Handle or Dll.... Most of the time, there's no need to restart your computer, it can be as easy as closing an Explorer.exe window.

answered Aug 05 '15 at 01:45

diapir

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Thanks man, in my case I've a VM accessing the host folder. Closing VM made the trick ;) – Gueorgui Obregon Feb 08 '17 at 23:11

Stuck on Git on Windows: Can't checkout, can't stash, can't commit

3 Answers3

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