“Git error: could not lock config file C:/Users/old_profile/.gitconfig: No such file or directory” after profile migration

Question

I have an interesting error that keeps coming up when using git for windows (version 2.12.0.windows.1). I recently migrated my windows profile directory from one location to

Answer 1

In WSL / bash

Use sudo to set values. This should only apply to the --system scope.

sudo git config --system diff.tool p4merge

In Cmd / PowerShell

Run as Administrator to set values. This is because the gitconfig file (probably located at: C:\Program Files\Git\mingw64\etc\) is protected.

Only SYSTEM and COMPUTER\Administrators have Modify rights. The rest of the ACLs have Read and Read & execute rights only.