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Git Failed to start configured compare tool

noah h 11 Reputation points
2022-08-12T19:46:47.267+00:00

When I try to use the "Compare with unmodified" button inside the "Git Changes" window I get a "Source Control - Git Failed to start configured compare tool." error popup

The comparing within the "View Commit Details" window and compare commit window works just fine.

This only happens on the 2022 edition (I want to say this only happens on the newest version that was released here recently, but I can't verify that - unless someone know how to download old visual studio version officially (without the payed versions of VS) - This also happens in the 2022 edition preview) if I load the solution within VS 2019 it works without issues.

This ALSO only happens within 1 specific project within my solution, other solutions and other projects within that solution also works without issues.

Logic would dictate there is something wrong with that specific project (which again apparently only happens in 2022 edition) the question is why?
I first noticed this happening the first time some time yesterday in EU timezone, which I believe is more or less right after I updated to the newest version. So personally I'm going to assume that is my issue.

Another solution that I'm sure people is gonna bring up is "Just use VS 2019 then?". Yes I could do that but it's not like I'm gonna use the 2019 edition forever right?

As I have alluded to earlier, if anyone knows of an official way to downgrade my VS 2022 community version via the official installation methods so that I can I test if that helps would be helpful.

Non of my projects have a .gitconfig file. And as far as I can see my git options is the same for all of the projects.

This is my first time posting anything on here. Any help is appreciated. If I'm posting this the wrong place, then let me know.

(Edit: I'm using the build in difference comparer, just incase that wasn't clear)

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  1. noah h 11 Reputation points
    2022-08-12T21:33:27.287+00:00

    Hey I tested it.
    It is indeed a problem with the special character "â" and presumably other non English characters as well.

    I made 2 new projects and solutions.
    1 with the name testa and one with the name testâ
    and initialized git on both
    the one with the â character does **NOT** work. While the one with the normal a character works.

    This is only the case with the newest official release of VS 2022 community.
    VS community 2019 (16.10.3) does not have this issue.

    Am I suppose to report this as a bug somewhere else now?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Keenan Stewart 5 Reputation points
    2023-04-27T12:53:35.74+00:00

    TLDR, close all windows in Visual Studio and try your compare again.

    Context:
    This is also my first time posting on here. Your post was exactly the same issue I am encountering, but if I continually right click and choose "Compare with Unmodified...", it worked. Many times, like 10 times. Annoying.

    I again closed the GIT windows in Visual Studio, this time I am closing all code windows in Visual Studio, right clicking on the .CS file in Git Changes, choosing the "Compare with Unmodified..." again, it WORKED.

    Hope this helps someone.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Michael Taylor 52,471 Reputation points
    2022-08-12T20:05:46.15+00:00

    Interesting that you asked for rollback. If you just updated to VS 2022 Preview then they added the rollback feature. Run the VS 2022 Preview installer and you should see an option to rollback to the previous version you had installed. Then try your test again. If it worked then but doesn't now then it sounds like something got broke. You should use the Report a Problem tool in VS to replicate the issue and let them know. However this seems like an ongoing issue from at least VS 2019 already - https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/search?space=8&q=git+failed+to+start+configured

    As for 1 project in 1 solution I wonder if you have a Git configuration setting for that project that is overriding the normally global option. Honestly I don't know how to track that down but maybe go to the project that is having the issue and run a git config command and see if it is somehow different than your other projects.

  4. Janus HH 0 Reputation points
    2023-02-10T10:01:57.67+00:00

    We have recently had the same issue in our team in a vs project containing 'æ'.

    If we staged our changes then we could diff them. :)

    And if we launched Visual Studio Installer and updated to 17.4.4 the issue disappears.

    0 comments
  5. TAN Handong 0 Reputation points
    2024-03-18T06:40:18.14+00:00

    I use VS 17.9.1 and I came across this issue,as well.

    Reproduce the issue.

    Open a solution controlled by git. then, change something (for example,.xaml file). Click the file in the git panel. It works when first open the file.

    Close the compare window. And then clicked the changed file again. It will appear the error windows:

    Source Control -Git \ Failed to start the configured compare tool

    Temporary Solution

    Restart VS.

    I hope Microsoft can solve this bug.