'git status' failed with code 128: error: bad signature fatal: index file corrupt
Asked by Ralph Cossio:

The moment I start up my sourceTree, I get this error. How to resolve it without damaging my current project files?


Answers:
author: rrudnicki
body: Hi Ralph,

If the problem is with the index as **the staging area for commits** (i.e. `.git/index`), you can simply remove the index (make a backup copy if you want), and then restore index to version in the last commit. On SourceTree shell run:

On OSX/Linux:

    rm -f .git/indexgit reset

On Windows:

    del .git\indexgit reset

(The `reset` command above is the same as `git reset --mixed HEAD`)

Cheers,   
Renato Rudnicki

comments: author: Cambesa
body: Thanks, this solved the problem however it surprises me that I had to use the OSX/Linux command on my windows machine.


author: mustnecessity
body: Use OSX/Linux command on my windows machine +1


author: AlexGreen
body: git reset

<br />

error: inflate: data stream error (invalid code lengths set)  
error: unable to unpack 64e00659b39bc2ec92b15903426745a9ca0e7469 header  
error: inflate: data stream error (invalid code lengths set)  
fatal: loose object 64e00659b39bc2ec92b15903426745a9ca0e7469 (stored in .git/objects/64/e00659b39bc2ec92b15903426745a9ca0e7469) is corrupt


author: Thuggers
body: I too had to use the Above OSX/Linux command on my machine as well....


author: Mamadou ka Foinke
body: Thanks


author: mike varsakelis
body: Technically it did work and got me past that error.

However, it now shows a ton of stuff that I didn't change nor do I want to commit. When I just try to stash everything to get back to where I was it tells me "You do not have the initial commit yet". This reset resets more than I realized it would and caused different issue.


author: Schroef
body: Im getting an errorcode 128, "ref/heads ... does not point to a valid object!"  

Could it be its looking for a remote tree which has been deleted? I noticed the branch i was in has been merged already. I tried a git reset, didnt solve it.

![errorcode-128.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/157056i44DB8EDB57A253E6/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "errorcode-128.png")

The issue im having is that my local list of branches is completely empty now.


author: Megh Developer
body: Please Help Me I Am getting this error on every next day. And I Have To Take Re-Clone My Project Every Time.

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/75471i081529A6E4B8730C/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

comments: author: noamgr
body: Check that you have an access to drive E:


author: David Blickstein
body: The fix did NOT work for me. Any other suggestions?

When I try it, the git reset command gets "fatal: unterminated line in .git/packed-refs"


author: Edenghajakk
body: Works for me. Thanks.

comments: author: Ts_epo_Mphongoa
body: It also worked for me


author: hari_webandcrafts
body: I restarted my windows system and then opened the source tree. It is automatically resolved !!


author: AAverin
body: I get this all the time.

I almost hate it already!

Steps to reproduce are simple.

Just create a new branch, commit something, then switch to develop, merge your branch to develop and delete it. And observe the bug.

The only way to fix is to delete the wholerepo fromsourcetreeand add it again.

Can the issue be fixed? Please?


author: Mikhail Grunko
body: I deleted my project (root folder) and created it again. It was the fastest and simplest way in my case.

Save all you changes, before you delete you project!


author: Ralph Cossio
body: Thanks.. It worked.. Sorry for the late reply

comments: author: rrudnicki
body: Hi Ralph, glad to hear that :)If you don't mind, I would kindly ask you to accept it so the same will be visible to others who might be facing the same issue you have inquired.


author: Ralph Cossio
body: just did.. sorry :)