What can make git be unable to find the git repository even though the .git folder is there and the HEAD content is correct?

Question

Due to a syncing problem, I lost some files. I check git status and it says:

fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

But the .git folder still seems to be fine:

ls .git

    Directory: D:\QC supplements\Vaults\E Mạng lưới người thân, bạn bè của người có niềm tin tiêu cực\Liên minh Cueball\.git

Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
d----           26-Oct-23  3:35 PM                hooks
d----           26-Oct-23  3:35 PM                info
d----           26-Oct-23  3:35 PM                logs
d----           26-Oct-23  2:54 PM                objects
-a---           23-Mar-23  3:22 PM             13 COMMIT_EDITMSG
-a---           14-Apr-23  9:58 PM            261 config
-a---           23-Mar-23  3:19 PM             73 description
-a---           20-Apr-23  3:08 PM              0 FETCH_HEAD
-a---           23-Mar-23  3:19 PM             21 HEAD
-a---           14-May-23 12:19 PM        1925415 index
-a---           23-Mar-23  3:22 PM            103 packed-refs

I understand that some corrupts can happen inside the .git directory, but according to this answer, then the secondary check is the the content of the HEAD. But it's not corrupted as well:

ref: refs/heads/main

Then what other reasons for it to be unable to find the repo? Or in other words, what is the tertiary check?

Ceraceous

can you elaborate? – Ceraceous

actually, what I said made no sense. I see no refs directory in that listing. Is it missing? – Equipage

You mention "syncing". If you use Onedrive or similar cloud syncing tool for the .git directory, your repository is going to be destroyed in no time. Do not do that, or even more headaches ensue. – Siphonophore

@Siphonophore I use syncthing – Ceraceous

Answer 1

The refs directory is missing, and required.

edit: the minimal is-it-a-repo smoketest is almost startlingly simple:

1. a HEAD file with a commit id or a branch ref like ref: refs/heads/itsabranch
2. a refs/ directory
3. an objects/ directory or a GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY env pointing to one elsewhere.

and that's enough to make a working repository.

Plautus

Answer 2

Sometimes this error is raised when you copy the .git directory from a different repo

git init .

Try initializing a new git repository in the required folder using the above command and try git status

Wreckful

"sometimes" — when? – Ceraceous

what i meant to say is your error is caused because you did the above mentioned scenario – Wreckful

I understand that in that scenario it's likely to get the error. However, the explanation that it only occurs when the HEAD file is corrupt. So is it correct to say that that explanation is not enough? – Ceraceous

No the explanation you mentioned says that if the name of the HEAD is wrong this error will occur but from what i see the name and the contents of HEAD you mentioned are correct . So that explanation is not appropriate for your scenario – Wreckful

hmm, ok. I think the question can be reword as this: "The primary check for a git repo is existence of the .git directory. The secondary check is the HEAD file. What is the tertiary check?" – Ceraceous