Error when launching the VSCode via Code.exe

Does this issue occur when all extensions are disabled?: Yes/No
Yes and No

Help: Start Extension Bisect didnt help.

VS Code version: Code 1.130.0 (1b6a188127eeaf9194f945eb6eb89a657e93c54c, 2026-07-22T14:55:04Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200 | Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise | 10.0.26200 Build 26200

Build info

- Commit: 1b6a188127eeaf9194f945eb6eb89a657e93c54c
- Date: 2026-07-22T14:55:04Z
- Electron: 42.6.0
- ElectronBuildId: 14623276
- Chromium: 148.0.7778.280
- Node.js: 24.18.0
- V8: 14.8.178.38-electron.0

So I have this issue, that when I open the ./Code.exe something fails.
when running ./Code.exe --disable-extensions, issue persists

But when opening ./bin/code.cmd (or just using the alias in path code --disable-extensions) i have no issues, everything works.

Problem happens only when using the UI / shortcuts that point to the .exe

Looks like I might be missing some environment values
I have tried reinstalling and still same issue persists.

This prevents from any builtin extension to load etc

I found someone had a similar issue here but it got stale and closed https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/254516

Maybe could be something to do with devcontainer and wsl because the other guy had it.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Open the Code.exe on "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe"

log dump from View -> Output [Window]
```
2026-07-28 16:15:02.635 [error] [Window] Error received from starting extension host (kind: LocalProcess)
2026-07-28 16:15:02.636 [error] [Window] TypeError: Invalid value for env
at new ForkUtilityProcess (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:84047)
at Object.fork (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:82259)
at fs.doStart (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:450:12544)
at fs.start (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:450:15813)
at ws.start (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:474:38375)
at Object.call (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:437:5475)
at Zd.onPromise (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:435:15434)
at Zd.onRawMessage (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:435:14857)
at Ka.value (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:435:14123)
at S._deliver (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3244)
at S._deliverQueue (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3333)
at S.fire (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3667)
at Ka.value (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:432:5943)
at S._deliver (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3244)
at S.fire (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3562)
at Ka.value (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:432:6137)
at S._deliver (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3244)
at S.fire (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:434:3562)
at re (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:432:9534)
at IpcMainImpl.t (file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft%20VS%20Code/1b6a188127/resources/app/out/main.js:440:13369)
at IpcMainImpl.emit (node:events:509:28)
at Session. (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:113605)
at Session.emit (node:events:509:28)
2026-07-28 16:15:02.672 [error] [Window] [vscode.mermaid-markdown-features]: Extension 'vscode.mermaid-markdown-features' CANNOT use 'legacyToolReferenceFullNames' without the 'chatParticipantPrivate' API proposal enabled
2026-07-28 16:15:03.019 [info] [Window] [AgentHost:renderer] Acquiring MessagePort to agent host...
2026-07-28 16:15:03.076 [info] [Window] [AgentHost:renderer] MessagePort acquired, creating client...
2026-07-28 16:15:03.077 [info] [Window] [AgentHost:renderer] Direct MessagePort connection established
...
```

System Info

|Item|Value|
|---|---|
|CPUs|Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 155U (14 x 2688)|
|GPU Status|2d_canvas: enabled
GPU0: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0x7d45 [Intel(R) Graphics], DRIVER_VENDOR=Intel, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.101.8724 *ACTIVE*
GPU1: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.26100.8875
Machine model name:
Machine model version:
direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok
gpu_compositing: enabled
multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on
opengl: enabled_on
rasterization: enabled
raw_draw: disabled_off_ok
skia_graphite: disabled_off
trees_in_viz: disabled_off
video_decode: enabled
video_encode: enabled
webgl: enabled
webgpu: enabled
webnn: disabled_off|
|Load (avg)|undefined|
|Memory (System)|31.51GB (13.97GB free)|
|Process Argv|--crash-reporter-id daa8a079-06a3-46bf-8f47-38620ea24ab9|
|Screen Reader|no|
|VM|0%|
Extensions (7)

Name|Identifier|Author|Version
---|---|---|---
Dev Containers|ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers|ms-vscode-remote|0.467.0
Remote - SSH|ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh|ms-vscode-remote|0.125.2026072315
Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files|ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh-edit|ms-vscode-remote|0.87.0
WSL|ms-vscode-remote.remote-wsl|ms-vscode-remote|0.104.3
Remote Development|ms-vscode-remote.vscode-remote-extensionpack|ms-vscode-remote|0.26.0
Remote Explorer|ms-vscode.remote-explorer|ms-vscode|0.6.2026031809
Remote - Tunnels|ms-vscode.remote-server|ms-vscode|1.6.2026072309

A/B Experiments

```
vsliv368:30146709
vswsl492cf:30256860
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
envsactivate1:31551504
cloudbuttont:31379625
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
56b7f661:31457055
ddidtcf:31399634
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31526232
4je02754:31466945
8hhj4413:31478653
ge8j1254_inline_auto_hint_haiku:31490510
cp_cls_c_1081:31454833
conptydll_true:31498968
e9c30283:31461165
test_treatment2:31471001
46204921:31447328
capico_axe_098a3278:31555651
idci7584:31464702
e3e4d672:31494082
ei9d7968:31496641
nes-extended-on:31455476
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
89g7j272:31518289
7e187181:31503455
i2gc6536:31499202
52612955:31516516
ghj88844:31499326
ddid_t:31478206
hmra_i5g22:31518061
7df3h592:31512476
cp_cls_t_1082:31535311
logging_enabled_new:31498466
db5d2638:31499441
jb_cp_cls_t_632:31543129
56dj4588:31512888
32d76977:31512328
ha629193:31508444
cdk-lw-on:31524445
f9bf7985:31543584
jh5f2457_c:31540921
g4a0e106:31529594
8hfba999:31537718
jbcp_cls_pctr_t:31531130
61138546:31518536
cp_intellij_t_nes:31548657
gf14b233:31526830
nes-curr-leftover-1500:31538366
ahp-both-windows:31556933
h561g132:31533256
sessions_3:31532893
ihg5j128:31534457
f412h606:31551416
9gg7f176:31542112
5fe6f778:31554331
allow-none:31555437
fd5dc207:31551400
nes-gb3-nf-6k:31554346
1532g621_copy:31554320
d4c76da2:31557006
treatment-23-1:31555779
unuse_dynamic_mcp:31555281

```