R cannot start at all: R 4.4.2 failed to start up (exit code -1073741502)

[lgaborini]

System details:

Positron and OS details:

Positron Version: 2025.01.0 (user setup) build 39
Code - OSS Version: 1.93.0
Commit: c7ef34f
Date: 2024-12-09T02:49:42.315Z
Electron: 30.4.0
Chromium: 124.0.6367.243
Node.js: 20.15.1
V8: 12.4.254.20-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.19045

Interpreter details:

R 4.4.2

Describe the issue:

Since Positron 2025.01.0 build 39 I have been having this issue where R cannot start even just after by opening a Positron workspace.
In the console it reads:

R 4.4.2 starting.
R 4.4.2 failed to start up (exit code -1073741502)

The process exited abnormally (exit code: 0xc0000142)

Starting the interpreter manually does not work.
Even by closing and reopening the window (with the same workspace) does not often fix.
It also affected R 4.4.1.

The only way to fix is to delete the folder in Positron\User\workspaceStorage.

Steps to reproduce the issue:

Opening an existing Positron workspace.

Expected or desired behavior:

R Console starts.

Were there any error messages in the UI, Output panel, or Developer Tools console?

Developer Tools console:

Starting language runtime failed. Reason: HTTP request failed
Error starting runtime session: HTTP request failed

The renderer.log contains this:

2024-12-18 08:45:13.807 [warning] Via 'product.json#extensionEnabledApiProposals' extension 'ms-python.python' wants API proposal 'terminalShellIntegration' but that proposal DOES NOT EXIST. Likely, the proposal has been finalized (check 'vscode.d.ts') or was abandoned.
2024-12-18 08:45:13.854 [warning] Via 'product.json#extensionEnabledApiProposals' extension 'github.copilot' wants API proposal 'authGetSessions' but that proposal DOES NOT EXIST. Likely, the proposal has been finalized (check 'vscode.d.ts') or was abandoned.
2024-12-18 08:45:13.855 [warning] Via 'product.json#extensionEnabledApiProposals' extension 'github.copilot-chat' wants API proposal 'authGetSessions' but that proposal DOES NOT EXIST. Likely, the proposal has been finalized (check 'vscode.d.ts') or was abandoned.
2024-12-18 08:45:14.775 [debug] Using cached extensions scan result user vscode-userdata:/c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/extensions.json
2024-12-18 08:45:14.776 [debug] ComputeTargetPlatform: win32-x64
2024-12-18 08:45:14.805 [info] Started local extension host with pid 33720.
2024-12-18 08:45:14.984 [debug] No new project configuration found in storage
2024-12-18 08:45:15.416 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-pyright.pyright-1.1.369-universal in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-pyright.pyright.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.416 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-python.debugpy-2024.6.0-win32-x64 in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-python.debugpy.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.417 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-toolsai.jupyter-2024.5.0-universal in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-toolsai.jupyter.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.417 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers-1.0.18-universal in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.417 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-cell-tags-0.1.9-universal in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-cell-tags.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.418 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow-0.1.6-universal in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.418 [warning] Skipping extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/.positron/extensions/ms-vscode.js-debug-1.91.0-universal in favour of the builtin extension /c:/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Local/Programs/Positron/resources/app/extensions/ms-vscode.js-debug.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.418 [error] Extension 'ms-python.python' appears in product.json but enables LESS API proposals than the extension wants.
package.json (LOSES): positronResolveSymlinks, contribEditorContentMenu, quickPickSortByLabel, testObserver, quickPickItemTooltip, terminalDataWriteEvent, terminalExecuteCommandEvent, codeActionAI, notebookReplDocument, notebookVariableProvider
product.json (WINS): contribEditorContentMenu, quickPickSortByLabel, portsAttributes, testObserver, quickPickItemTooltip, terminalDataWriteEvent, terminalExecuteCommandEvent, contribIssueReporter
2024-12-18 08:45:15.463 [warning] [ms-python.python]: Cannot register 'python.venvPath'. This property is already registered.
2024-12-18 08:45:15.604 [info] [positron.positron-r]: Command `workbench.action.positronConsole.executeCode` already registered
2024-12-18 08:45:15.605 [debug] [Runtime startup] Extension ms-python.python has been registered for language runtime for language ID 'python'
2024-12-18 08:45:15.605 [debug] [Runtime startup] Extension positron.positron-r has been registered for language runtime for language ID 'r'
2024-12-18 08:45:15.606 [debug] [Runtime startup] Extension positron.positron-reticulate has been registered for language runtime for language ID 'reticulate'
2024-12-18 08:45:16.060 [debug] User data changed
2024-12-18 08:45:16.443 [debug] User data changed
2024-12-18 08:45:16.644 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/editSessions.log
2024-12-18 08:45:16.696 [error] spawn c:\Users\Lorenzo\AppData\Local\Programs\Positron\resources\app\extensions\positron-python\python-env-tools\bin\pet.exe ENOENT: Error: spawn c:\Users\Lorenzo\AppData\Local\Programs\Positron\resources\app\extensions\positron-python\python-env-tools\bin\pet.exe ENOENT
	at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:286:19)
	at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:484:16)
	at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)
2024-12-18 08:45:16.709 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/positron.positron-r/Positron%20R%20Extension.log
2024-12-18 08:45:17.112 [debug] User data changed
2024-12-18 08:45:17.197 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/ms-python.python/Python.log
2024-12-18 08:45:17.198 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/positron.positron-proxy/Positron%20Proxy.log
2024-12-18 08:45:17.199 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/ms-python.python/Python%20Locator.log
2024-12-18 08:45:17.661 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/vscode.git/Git.log
2024-12-18 08:45:17.679 [debug] User data changed
2024-12-18 08:45:17.723 [info] [perf] Render performance baseline is 75ms
2024-12-18 08:45:17.734 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/vscode.github/GitHub.log
2024-12-18 08:45:18.676 [debug] User data changed
2024-12-18 08:45:19.454 [debug] [Runtime startup] Session restore; workspace: 7b5136b2e52a612f6c1a49670ca97018, workbench state: 3, startupKind: 1
2024-12-18 08:45:19.476 [debug] [Runtime startup] Phase changed to 'starting'
2024-12-18 08:45:19.476 [debug] [Runtime startup] Activating extension positron.positron-r for language ID r
2024-12-18 08:45:19.767 [info] Language runtime 912077798d99e95f382c96e6337fbb96 (language: R name: R 4.4.1 version: 4.4.1) automatically starting. Source: Affiliated r runtime for workspace
2024-12-18 08:45:19.768 [debug] [Runtime startup] Activating extension ms-python.python for language ID python
2024-12-18 08:45:19.768 [debug] [Runtime startup] Activating extension positron.positron-r for language ID r
2024-12-18 08:45:19.769 [debug] [Runtime startup] Activating extension positron.positron-reticulate for language ID reticulate
2024-12-18 08:45:19.938 [debug] [Ext host 0] Runtime manager for 'R 4.4.1': true
2024-12-18 08:45:20.075 [debug] [Runtime startup] All extensions contributing language runtimes have been activated.
2024-12-18 08:45:20.076 [debug] [Runtime startup] Phase changed to 'discovering'
2024-12-18 08:45:20.294 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/positron.positron-notebook-controllers/Positron%20Notebook%20Controllers.log
2024-12-18 08:45:20.300 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/positron.positron-run-app/Positron%20Run%20App.log
2024-12-18 08:45:20.346 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/positron.jupyter-adapter/Jupyter%20Adapter.log
2024-12-18 08:45:20.347 [debug] [Registering Log Channel] File does not exist. Waiting for 1s to retry. file:///c%3A/Users/Lorenzo/AppData/Roaming/Positron/logs/20241218T084512/window1/exthost/positron.positron-supervisor/Positron%20Kernel%20Supervisor.log
2024-12-18 08:45:21.584 [info] Replacing runtime 912077798d99e95f382c96e6337fbb96 (language: R name: R 4.4.1 version: 4.4.1) => 522ccb764409e208740394125df4e075 (language: R name: R 4.4.2 version: 4.4.2)
2024-12-18 08:45:21.607 [debug] [Ext host 0] Runtime manager for 'R 4.4.2': true
2024-12-18 08:45:21.678 [warning] Already attached to session, disposing existing listeners before reattaching: r-87cc85de
2024-12-18 08:45:21.839 [debug] [Runtime startup] Saving workspace sessions (0)
2024-12-18 08:45:21.840 [debug] [Runtime startup] Saving workspace sessions (0)
2024-12-18 08:45:21.840 [debug] [Runtime startup] Saving workspace sessions (0)
2024-12-18 08:45:21.840 [error] Starting language runtime failed. Reason: HTTP request failed
2024-12-18 08:45:21.841 [debug] Error starting runtime session: HTTP request failed
2024-12-18 08:45:25.377 [debug] Comments: URIs of continue on comments to add to storage .
2024-12-18 08:45:25.582 [debug] User data changed
2024-12-18 08:45:27.010 [debug] Comments: URIs of continue on comments to add to storage .
2024-12-18 08:45:29.567 [debug] Comments: URIs of continue on comments to add to storage .

The Positron Kernel Supervisor.log contains this (stripping the old tailed logs):

2024-12-18 08:45:20.369 [info] Positron Kernel Supervisor activated
2024-12-18 08:45:20.370 [info] Reconnecting to Kallichore server at http://localhost:58055 (PID 9396)
2024-12-18 08:45:20.370 [info] Streaming Kallichore server logs at C:\Users\Lorenzo\AppData\Local\Temp\kallichore-64f000d9.log

...

2024-12-18 08:45:20.406 [info] 
Creating session: {"sessionId":"r-87cc85de","sessionName":"R 4.4.2","sessionMode":"console","createdTimestamp":1734507921606,"startReason":"Affiliated r runtime for workspace"}
07:45:21 [INFO] new_session("r-87cc85de") - X-Span-ID: "393c7666-c1fe-42b5-b919-804b69e89bba"
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (3) kcserver::server: Created connection file for session r-87cc85de at "C:\\Users\\Lorenzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\connection_r-87cc85de.json"
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (3) kcserver::server: Created log file for session r-87cc85de at "C:\\Users\\Lorenzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\kernel_log_r-87cc85de.txt"
07:45:21 [INFO] start_session("r-87cc85de") - X-Span-ID: "3625a740-b09c-478a-8610-a035fc8d1788"
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (3) kcserver::kernel_state: [session r-87cc85de] status 'idle' => 'starting' (start API called)
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (3) kcserver::kernel_session: Starting kernel for session r-87cc85de: ["c:\\Users\\Lorenzo\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Positron\\resources\\app\\extensions\\positron-r\\resources\\ark\\ark.exe", "--connection_file", "C:\\Users\\Lorenzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\connection_r-87cc85de.json", "--log", "C:\\Users\\Lorenzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\kernel-3UjVnK\\kernel.log", "--startup-file", "c:\\Users\\Lorenzo\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Positron\\resources\\app\\extensions\\positron-r\\resources\\scripts\\startup.R", "--session-mode", "console", "--", "--interactive", "--no-restore-data"]
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (3) kcserver::kernel_session: End of output stream (kind: Stdout)
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (11) kcserver::kernel_session: End of output stream (kind: Stderr)
07:45:21 [INFO] Child process for session r-87cc85de exited with status: exit code: 0xc0000142
07:45:21 [DEBUG] (11) kcserver::kernel_state: [session r-87cc85de] status 'starting' => 'exited' (child process exited)
07:45:21 [ERROR] [session r-87cc85de] Startup failed; abnormal exit with code -1073741502: The process exited abnormally (exit code: 0xc0000142)
07:45:21 [ERROR] KS-14: The kernel exited before a connection could be established
07:45:21 [ERROR] [session r-87cc85de] Output before exit: