Is there any solution for git - error: bad signature without losing (non-committed) data

Question

I was working on a branch and it was working fine. After some work, when I type git status this happens:

mac-mini:production_designs jithinraj$ git status
error: bad signature
fatal: index file corrupt

Now I can't commit or do anything on my branch. Any solution for this without losing my data that was not committed?

Hi, did you see this? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1115854/how-to-resolve-error-bad-index-fatal-index-file-corrupt-when-using-git — Davide Patti, Oct 11 '17 at 12:16
I don't know. Anyway, I suggest to you to make a backup only of the involved files before. — Davide Patti, Oct 11 '17 at 12:24

score 26 · Accepted Answer · edited May 20 '21 at 20:26

26

I fixed my issue without loosing my data -

Deleted the index file manually.
After that, I used the command git reset --keep (you may need to delete index.lock file as well)
Then used the command git status(it will take some time) magically all my changed files were there for me to commit.

Thank you for your time guys. Really appreciate it.

edited May 20 '21 at 20:26

Runay Dhaygude

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answered Oct 11 '17 at 13:30

Jithin Raj P R

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The fear of losing changes is real. But this solution worked like a charm. Just for safety, first clone the project in a new repo. Then follow the above steps. Thank you very much!! – Waleed93 Mar 19 '22 at 20:14
Worked wonderfully. – Eskay Amadeus Aug 28 '23 at 10:46

score 10 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 11 '17 at 12:29

10

Try to reset your git. it may be because of any index or file got corrupted.

Once I also faced the same problem. Got fixed with below command:

rm -f .git/index


git reset .

I hope this resolve that issue.

edited Oct 11 '17 at 12:29

Jithin Raj P R

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answered Oct 11 '17 at 12:21

kumar

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But will it affect my unsaved data.? – Jithin Raj P R Oct 11 '17 at 12:22
do first: git reset . then check git status you can see your data(file where you made changes). it won't removed unsaved data. – kumar Oct 11 '17 at 12:23
Are you sure? Will `git reset . ` delete my data.? – Jithin Raj P R Oct 11 '17 at 12:25
it wasn't deleted any data for me..hope it won't delete for you.For your sake of convinance please do one thing. Do changes in some file in other code base. then do "git add filename" and after that do "git reset filename" still you have your data. – kumar Oct 11 '17 at 12:28
I got my solution using `git reset --keep` ty for your time, +1 for your efforts. :) – Jithin Raj P R Oct 11 '17 at 13:33

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 01 '22 at 21:13

The other answers didn't work for me, so I pulled an XKCD. Hey, if it works, it works!

Step out of your repo folder

cd ..

Rename the original (broken folder)

mv folder folder_backup

Re-clone the repo

git clone <repo>

Move the (possibly changed) files back

cp -r folder_backup/* folder

Now you have a working repo again, because you recloned it, with your (possibly changed) files, that you copied back, so now you can commit/push those changes.

Is there any solution for git - error: bad signature without losing (non-committed) data

3 Answers3