C++ debugging character arrays and strings: <error reading variable> and "Converting character sets: Invalid argument."

When debugging a C++ file containing character arrays or strings, the contents of the array/string are not shown, but instead shows "<error reading variable>" for character arrays and "Converting character sets: Invalid argument." for strings. Integer arrays are not affected:

However, what puzzles me is that on a different machine but with the exact same VSCode version (1.52.1), C/C++ extension version (v1.1.3) and C++ compiler (mingw-w64 x86_64-8.1.0-posix-seh-rt_v6-rev0), and launch.json file, the contents of the array/string appears normally:

The contents of launch.json are given below:

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "g++.exe - Build and debug active file",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "C:\\Program Files\\mingw-w64\\x86_64-8.1.0-posix-seh-rt_v6-rev0\\mingw64\\bin",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": false,
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "miDebuggerPath": "C:\\Program Files\\mingw-w64\\x86_64-8.1.0-posix-seh-rt_v6-rev0\\mingw64\\bin\\gdb.exe",
            "setupCommands": [
                {
                    "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                }
            ],
            "preLaunchTask": "C/C++: g++.exe build active file"
        }
    ]
}

This problem has been posted elsewhere but with no solutions, as seen here and here

• VSCode Version: 1.52.1
• OS Version: Windows 10 20H2
• C/C++ extension Version: 1.1.3

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a character array in C++ file
2. Start debugging

The issue still persists after disabling all extensions apart from the C/C++ tools extension.

Start with the reported launch.json configuration and reproduce the character-array and string debugging steps on Windows using VS Code 1.52.1 and C/C++ extension 1.1.3. Compare the failing and working machine environments, including the MinGW toolchain and gdb path. Done means character arrays and strings display their values without either reported error.