# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Windows state.db holder detection fix

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

A bug where \`foreign_state_db_holders()\` silently returns an empty list on Windows, causing maintenance preflight checks to be skipped. Multiple fix approaches are explored, including psutil scanning and Restart Manager integration.

## TL;DR

- 6 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 4 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #121423. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #121423 (and any competing PRs below) before filing. Confirm the merged change covers your symptom.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `resolved` · deciding PR(s): `pr-121423`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.40`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #120205: Windows: foreign_state_db_holders() returns \[\] so the state.db write-guard / optimize-storage preflight is a silent no-op

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#121423: fix(state): detect Windows state.db holders before maintenance**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `contributors/emails/[redacted:email]`, `hermes_cli/doctor_platform.py`, `hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_journal_mode.py`, `hermes_cli/subcommands/sessions.py`, `hermes_state_holders.py`, `tests/e2e/core/windows/test_state_db_guard.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor_journal_modes.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_sessions_set_journal_mode.py`, `tests/hermes_state/test_state_db_holders.py`, `tests/hermes_state/test_state_db_holders_windows_live.py`, `website/docs/user-guide/sessions.md`
- **#120235: fix(state): scan Windows state.db holders instead of assuming none**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `a8a549ebb4`, `#121423`, `#120205`, `#120241`
- **#120241: fix(state): guard Windows maintenance with Restart Manager**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `b006ae2dcf6b210d3db3dfbe78c5aac040044644`, `8d57bfc2d7df6b117f577f459366241a06ab2c4c`, `#120205`, `#120235`, `#120241`, `#120241`, `#120235`, `#120244`, `#120205`, `#120241`, `#120235`, `#120244`, `#120205`, `#120235`, `#120244`
- **#120244: fix(state): scan Windows for state.db holders through psutil**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `a8a549ebb4`, `#121423`, `#120205`
- **#120292: fix(state): enumerate state.db holders on Windows via psutil scan**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `a8a549ebb4`, `#121423`, `#120205`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #121423 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-24`.