Assertion failed in table/table_builder.cc:97 #4097

Under Windows Vista x64, SP2, the program gives an assertion fault message box a short time after starting up, while displaying the splash screen at the "Verifying blocks..." stage, before showing the main window. It's a new install of Bitcoin Core that's been in use for a couple of days after completely synchronizing with the block chain. The assertion fault occurs after every startup, thereby completely blocking use of the client and access to the wallet. The complete message follows:

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MinGW Runtime Assertion
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Assertion failed!

Program: C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bitcoin-qt.exe
File: table/table_builder.cc, Line 97

Expression: r->options.comparator->Compare(key, Slice(r->last_key)) > 0
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Abort   Retry   Ignore   
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It appears that deleting the .lock file in the AppData/Roaming/Bitcoin directory solves the problem. I have a copy of the complete directory at the state causing the issue if needed.

Normally this message is caused by a database corruption, necessitating a -reindex. Strange that just deleting the lock seemed to solve it.

I get the same problem with 0.9.1-beta from Git.

uname -a
Linux raspberry 3.12.19+ [#681](/bitcoin-bitcoin/681/) PREEMPT Fri May 9 16:36:10 BST 2014 armv6l GNU/Linux

On my system deleting the .lock didn't help, it still dies instantly after restart.

bitcoind: table/table_builder.cc:97: void leveldb::TableBuilder::Add(const leveldb::Slice&, const leveldb::Slice&): Assertion `r->options.comparator->Compare(key, Slice(r->last_key)) > 0' failed.

I chose to reindex blockchain and that's still going on.

Problem seems solved, closing.