How can I fix Git bash not working on Windows

Question

I uninstalled a few apps in control panel, then my git bash stopped working.

I think its related but not sure what it might be that made it stop. When I run bash outside of vscode i get the following (screenshot)

The only apps I remember uninstalling were Windows SDK tools and Visual Studio Installer.

I tried re-installing git bash but I still get the same error.

I get the following error in vs-code terminal

      2 [main] bash (12412) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fa
tal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x12C8408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
      2 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 12412 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: retry: Resource temporarily unavailable
      2 [main] bash (8824) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x1308408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
Search for cygwin1.dll using the Windows Start->Find/Search facility
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
1290157 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 8824 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: retry: Resource temporarily unavailable
      2 [main] bash (14364) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x1388408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
Search for cygwin1.dll using the Windows Start->Find/Search facility
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
3499346 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 14364 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: retry: Resource temporarily unavailable
      2 [main] bash (7688) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x1388408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
Search for cygwin1.dll using the Windows Start->Find/Search facility
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
4652774 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 7688 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: retry: Resource temporarily unavailable
      2 [main] bash (2216) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x11D8408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
Search for cygwin1.dll using the Windows Start->Find/Search facility
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
6724468 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 2216 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: retry: Resource temporarily unavailable
      2 [main] bash (3380) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x11D8408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
Search for cygwin1.dll using the Windows Start->Find/Search facility
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
10811431 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 3380 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: retry: Resource temporarily unavailable
      2 [main] bash (14080) C:\Program Files\Git\bin\..\usr\bin\bash.exe: *** fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x1368408/0x1308408.
This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
Search for cygwin1.dll using the Windows Start->Find/Search facility
and delete all but the most recent version.  The most recent version *should*
reside in x:\cygwin\bin, where 'x' is the drive on which you have
installed the cygwin distribution.  Rebooting is also suggested if you
are unable to find another cygwin DLL.
18892759 [main] bash 100 dofork: child -1 - forked process 14080 died unexpectedly, retry 0, exit code 0xC0000142, errno 11
bash: fork: Resource temporarily unavailable
bash-4.4$

This question is similar to: Git Bash cannot be initialized. If you believe it’s different, please edit the question, make it clear how it’s different and/or how the answers on that question are not helpful for your problem. — halt9k
– halt9k, Commented Mar 6 at 22:00

spike 王建 · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-07 11:49:44Z

4

copy from https://github.com/mintty/wsltty/issues/6

Here is the fix.

Go to you Windows Defender Security Center settings
Click on App & Browser Control
At the bottom click on the "Exploit Protection Settings" link
Go to "Program Settings" and click on the "Add program to customize" -> "Choose exact file path"
Navigate to "C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin\sh.exe" and add it
Override and turn off the following: Mandatory ASLR Randomize memory allocations (Bottom-up ASLR)
Click "Apply" and now everything should work fine.

Also add these other binaries from the same folder: expr.exe, uname.exe, grep.exe, rm.exe

Good luck, Gabriel

answered Aug 7, 2020 at 11:49

spike 王建

1,7647 silver badges16 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

S.McDonald Over a year ago

thanks that worked. I had to turn it off for the entire system but at least its working again

spike 王建 Over a year ago

@S.McDonald :p.

Dirk Bester · Accepted Answer · 2025-11-16 03:30:24Z

0

The real answer is to reinstall git for windows, but this time check the box for ASLR exclusion (currently the last setting before the actual "install" button). Unlike the accepted answer, it actually worked for my use case and will work for all other use cases.

Why? The ASLR security feature breaks all these unix functions and everything built on top of them.

answered Nov 16 at 3:30

Dirk Bester

1,95020 silver badges22 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How can I fix Git bash not working on Windows

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related