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Linux and dual-boot systems

After installing Linux, Windows no longer starts, although its files remain

Topic #404 · Updated · Pataisoma.lt

Troubleshooting guide

How to fix the problem

After installing Linux, Windows may not be listed in the GRUB menu, although its partitions remain intact. First, check the separate Windows Boot Manager entry UEFI. It's safer than changing partitions or reinstalling Windows right away.

Possible solutions

Choose the method that matches your situation. Start with the simplest suitable option and check the result. If the problem is fixed, you do not need to continue with the other methods.

  1. Starting Windows Boot Manager

    Check that Windows is running separately from GRUB.

    Steps to follow

    1. If the Windows disk is encrypted, find its BitLocker key beforehand.
    2. Reboot and open the one-time boot menu of UEFI according to your PC manual.
    3. Select Windows Boot Manager if available. If prompted for a key, use the valid key found by the ID.
    4. If Windows has started, save the data. Next, fix the Linux menu or boot order, not the Windows file system itself.

  2. Boot Recovery Plan

    Suitable if the Windows entry is gone, but its data remains.

    Steps to follow

    1. From a trusted recovery environment, just look at the partition diagram and verify that the Windows folder is still there.
    2. Copy important files and mark real EFI partition before burning operations.
    3. Boot Windows according to Microsoft's instructions, taking into account the drive letters that have changed in the recovery environment.
    4. If you are not sure which EFI belongs to the system, take the partition scheme to a specialist. An accidental bcdboot command to the wrong partition can make both boots difficult.

If the problem persists

If the Windows partition is deleted or overwritten, stop and deal with data recovery. If it's healthy but the boot record is missing, the repair should be applied to a real EFI partition. Do not format the shared EFI shared by both systems.

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