[BUG] VS Code extension shows a blank panel with no error when its files are corrupted; reinstalling doesn't repair it

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

After a Windows hard power-off (Kernel-Power 41), the installed extension folder ~/.vscode/extensions/anthropic.claude-code-2.1.296-win32-x64 was left corrupted:

• 13 files were filled entirely with zero bytes, including webview/index.js and webview/index.css
• resources/native-binary/claude.exe was corrupted partway through the file (same size as the original, different SHA-256)

Resulting symptoms:

1. The Claude Code panel is completely blank, with no error shown anywhere in the UI.
2. After index.js was restored, the panel loads, but every message fails with Claude Code process exited with code 1. stderr: error: Script not found "stream-json". That message hides the real cause, a damaged binary.
3. Uninstalling and reinstalling the extension, deleting ~/.claude, and restarting VS Code all had no effect. The corrupted folder for the same version was kept and reused.

The cached VSIX in %APPDATA%\Code\CachedExtensionVSIXs was intact the whole time.

What Should Happen?

• If the webview script fails to load, the panel should show an error (e.g. "Extension files appear damaged, please reinstall") instead of staying blank.
• The extension should check that the bundled claude.exe is intact before spawning it (e.g. a hash check) and give a clear error, not "Script not found".
• Uninstalling and reinstalling should give a clean, working install.

Error Messages/Logs

Webview Developer Tools console (blank panel):


Uncaught SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token (at index.js:1:1)


Panel, when sending a message:


Error: Claude Code process exited with code 1. stderr: error: Script not found "stream-json"


`Claude VSCode.log` shows the extension activating and authenticating normally, with no errors.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install the extension (2.1.296, Windows x64).
2. Simulate crash damage: overwrite webview/index.js in the extension folder with zero bytes → the panel opens blank, with no error.
3. Restore index.js, then corrupt bytes in the middle of resources/native-binary/claude.exe (keeping the size the same) → sending a message gives Script not found "stream-json".
4. Uninstall and reinstall the extension → the corrupted files remain, still broken.

Workaround: re-extract the files from the cached VSIX in %APPDATA%\Code\CachedExtensionVSIXs (or delete the extension folder before reinstalling).

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.296

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

Related: #69128 and #69318 report the same Script not found "stream-json" error on Windows. Both were auto-closed without a fix. In my case the cause was a corrupted resources/native-binary/claude.exe, and replacing it with the original from the cached VSIX fixed it. Others hitting this error may want to compare that file against the VSIX.

Similar but different: #61140 (blank panel on Windows, reinstall didn't help, closed without a cause found) and #56611 (blank panel because commands never registered, fixed in 2.1.131). In my case the extension activated and authenticated normally according to its log, and the cause was corrupted files on disk, not a specific version. If others report a blank panel that survives reinstalling, checking webview/index.js for zero bytes would be a quick test.

Environment: Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26300, VS Code 1.141.0 (commit 2a59476c), x64.