# cmake -G Ninja has errors

**URL:** https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-g-ninja-has-errors/15787
**Category:** Usage
**Tags:** gen:ninja
**Created:** [August 14, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-g-ninja-has-errors/15787 "2026-08-14T19:28:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![SlipBits](https://discourse.cmake.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SlipBits](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/SlipBits)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-g-ninja-has-errors/15787/1 "2026-08-14T19:28:57Z")

</div>

> cmake 4.2.1  
> Win11 home (x86-64)  
> Ninja 1.13.1 (windows version)  
> cygwin 3.7.0

I am brand new to cmake. A complete novice. So, if my question is dumb then that tells the truth about me.

> ```auto
> cmake -G Ninja -B build produces the following error:
> '/usr/bin/ninja.exe' '-C' '/d/home/skidmarks/Projects/Test/cmake/src/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-hiEt3u' '-t' 'recompact'
> 
> failed with:
> 
> ninja: fatal: chdir to '/d/home/skidmarks/Projects/Test/cmake/src/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-hiEt3u' - No such file or directory
> 
> ```

The file/direcotry ‘’‘`d/home/skidmarks/Projects/Test/cmake/src/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-hiEt3u`’" does not exist. Who creates this file? The user? cmake? And if it’s the user where do I find out what should be in it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jtxa](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/jtxa/32/1535_2.png) [@jtxa](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/jtxa)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-g-ninja-has-errors/15787/2 "2026-08-19T20:48:29Z")

</div>

If you’re using cygwin, you have to use cygwin tools.  
Native windows tools can’t handle cygwin paths like `/d/`, they expect a windows drive letter `d:\`