What does this overflow error in python mean?

Question

The full error is: OverflowError: timestamp too large to convert to C _PyTime_t

I have no idea what this means, and have not been able to find it anywhere else online. I am new to python so it may be something really simple that I'm missing.

The error is coming from this line of code within a function: time.sleep(t)

t is a variable

maybe this: kaggle.com/c/helping-santas-helpers/forums/t/11425/… — joel goldstick
– joel goldstick, Commented Jul 10, 2016 at 22:35
Does the error message include a stack trace? If so, that's important information, and you should post that too. If it doesn't have a stack trace, that's also important information, and you should say so explicitly. Also, can you post an MCVE that triggers the error when you run it? We can't usually debug code we can't see. — user2357112
– user2357112, Commented Jul 10, 2016 at 22:37
As a note, this error message wasn't including a stack trace in my case and may not have been for the asker either, which makes triage a bit more difficult. — bsplosion
– bsplosion, Commented Jan 15, 2019 at 13:57

bsplosion · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-01 13:48:16Z

11

I ran into this issue today while running Python 3.7.2 on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in Ubuntu, so Thiago's answer isn't universal. After doing some research, it turns out that WSL doesn't handle uptimes appropriately with longer periods of time (credit to "Petter S" for finding this symptom).

Restarting Windows fixes the bad uptime and makes Python runnable again.

Update 1: WSL 2 is officially announced with an expected release of June 2019 for Windows Insider builds. Given that Microsoft has built a new Linux kernel for WSL 2, I'd expect this bug to have been addressed - if anyone reproduces on WSL 2, please feel free to update.

Update 2: WSL 2 is live and installable, possibly only for the Insider ring. I haven't personally tested for this issue yet, but hopefully this issue is addressed as of this release.

edited Aug 1, 2019 at 13:48

answered Jan 15, 2019 at 13:56

bsplosion

2,9261 gold badge30 silver badges41 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Nathan Hoad Over a year ago

I just encountered this exact same issue on WSL! This is the first hit on Google, thank you so much.

ggruen Over a year ago

Just encountered in WSL2. :)

kraught · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-03 15:55:04Z

3

From https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/3514 followed instructions to restart WSL service (so I don't need to reboot)

All the broken tools, aws/python, ps, docker/tcp worked fine when I launched my Ubuntu WSL session again

In PowerShell (Admin)

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Get-Service LxssManager | Restart-Service

answered Apr 3, 2020 at 15:55

kraught

976 bronze badges

Comments

Thiago Baldim · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-10 23:03:30Z

1

Looks like this error happens in Python 3.5.0 like this issue here: https://bugs.python.org/issue25155

Check your Python version. If its 3.5.0 change for the newest version 3.5.2

answered Jul 10, 2016 at 23:03

Thiago Baldim

7,7723 gold badges34 silver badges55 bronze badges

Comments

lcompare · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-29 10:42:27Z

0

Closing the console in Windows and reopening it fixes the issue for me.

I got the error when doing sudo apt update.

answered Jul 29, 2020 at 10:42

lcompare

99713 silver badges11 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

What does this overflow error in python mean?

4 Answers 4

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related