Git submodule update: reference is not a tree... but commit IS there -

first of all: yes, i've checked this thread inside out - situation different.

we have 3 modules here:

• an application a
• its base library b (a submodule of a)
• a component c (a submodule of b)

when trying git clone --recursive https://url_of_a/, error when git attempts fetch c:

cloning 'path/of/c'... [...] checking connectivity... done fatal: reference not tree: 92405dd9027a2d55d9dd6f5b26494eee0009e297 unable checkout '92405dd9027a2d55d9dd6f5b26494eee0009e297'     in submodule path 'path/to/c' 

but guess what, there's no error when git clone --recursive https://url_of_b/ - though the revision check out same:

cloning 'path/of/c'... checking connectivity... done submodule path 'path/to/c': checked out '92405dd9027a2d55d9dd6f5b26494eee0009e297' 

... though remote pathes c same!

what's more puzzling: behavior observed @ windows 7/8 machines (so far, @ least). windows vista/xp machines somehow deep cloning same repositories without glitches - , wonder how's can platform-dependent.

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that's case, questions: 1) there same problem, , 2) workarounds? note all components (a, b, , c) not under our control, 'switch git-tree' , stuff won't work, unfortunately.

as first (incomplete) answer, lot of submodule corrections went between git 1.8.4 , 1.8.5.2:

c:\users\vonc\prog\git\git>git log -ssubmodule v1.8.4..v1.8.5.2 

• commit ac1fbbda201: submodule: not copy unknown update mode .gitmodules
• commit 746593bdcaf: refs: remove unused function invalidate_ref_cache
• commit 04c1ee576ac: mv: fix spurious warning when moving file in presence of submodules
• commit 927b26f87a5: submodule: don't print status output ignore=all
• commit 4b054402833: avoid segfault on submodule.*.path set empty "true"
• commit 95c16418f03: rm: delete .gitmodules entry of submodules removed work tree
• commit 0656781fadc: mv: update path entry in .gitmodules moved submodules
• commit 8745024422d: parse_pathspec: support stripping/checking submodule paths

it possible 1 of patches enhances robustness of submodule feature.
instance, msysgit issue you mention (issue 99) solved commit 4b054402833.