6 Best Fixes: Windows And Linux Boot Problems

Occasionally, issues with the Main Boot Record (MBR) or dual boot partition cause Window Linux boot problems.

These circumstances need to be fixed to get things back up and running. Fortunately, there is an automatic method for doing just that under the Windows 10 recovery environment.

If it doesn’t work, you can manually perform the fixes on your pc. Find out how by reading on.

Can dual boot partition be a reason for windows and Linux boot problems

Dual Booting may Impact Computer and Disk Performance. As a result, Windows will boot up more quickly on Linux, programs will no longer load soon, and the page and swap files will not operate more effectively.

You need to remove the dual boot partition immediately on your pc. 

Need to remove the dual boot partition in Windows 10/11 on Linux

Many people have successfully installed distinct operating systems (OS) on the same hard disc. However, some of them only employ one of the systems. If so, you might need to disable dual Booting in Windows 10 or 11 without impacting the other OS.

Preparation for safe dual boot removal in Windows 10/11 on Linux

It is advised to make a system backup of the OS that you want to maintain before attempting to remove it from the dual boot, just in case anything wrong happens.

Deleting the Linux partition after installing Linux and Windows 10 or 11 may impact the bootloader. As a result, you must also prepare a Windows 10 recovery USB CD.

Following the deletion, you can utilize troubleshooting for replacing the Linux boot loader with the Windows boot loader by starting your computer from the recovery disc.

Methods to delete dual boot partition on Linux

1. Delete dual boot partition via free software
2. Delete dual boot partition via MSConfig

1. Delete dual boot partition via free software

The partition containing the OS you want to remove immediately will be deleted using this technique.

Use the software AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard if you are dual-booting Windows and Ubuntu and wish to uninstall Ubuntu. 

Because the Ubuntu OS is installed on an Ext3 or Ext4 partition on Windows and the Disk Management cannot recognize such cells, you may be disappointed if you decide to utilize Windows 10/11 Disk Management to eliminate dual Booting on your pc.

• Install free software AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.
• You can observe that the Ubuntu partition is formatted with Ext3 or Ext4 in its main interface. Choose “Delete Partition” by performing right-clicking on the Ubuntu partition.

• Select the appropriate removing technique in the following dialogue based on your needs.

• To complete the pending operation, click “Apply” and “Proceed.”

Wait until the Ubuntu partition has been entirely removed. After deletion, you may decide whether to use the remaining unallocated space to enlarge your current partition or create a new, independent partition.

2. Delete dual boot partition via MSConfig

You can choose which operating system (OS) to reboot your computer by default using the msconfig utility tool, or you can remove one of the two OSs. Take these actions:

• The System Configuration window will open when you hit the “Windows logo + R” buttons on the keyboard to launch the “Run” box, type “msconfig,” then press the “Enter” key.

• Check if the OS you want to keep is listed as Current or Default OS by choosing the “Boot” option from the window.
• Choose the OS from the window and if it isn’t already selected, tap the “Set as default” button on the following window.
• Click on another one and choose “Delete” to remove it. After that, click “Apply” and “OK.”

• Restart the computer, then close the window to see if the modifications took effect.

The final step after removing the dual boot partition

• Use the installation or repair CD to start your computer. After skipping the first language selection page, select “Repair your machine” on the main installation screen.
• Tap the “Troubleshoot” button on the “Choose an option”/ boot menu.

• Select “Command Prompt” from the “Advanced settings” menu.

• Enter the following cmd at the Command Prompt: bootrec.exe /fixmbr.
• You can reboot your computer at that point. It will generally boot into pc. Now Linux should be gone entirely.

Other ways to fix Windows 10 not Booting up on Linux

If your cause differs from the dual boot partition when windows are not booting on Linux, then you should try the solutions mentioned below.

1. Get a disk including Boot-Repair
2. Rebuild GRUB
3. Change default bootloader
4. Use the GRUB customizer tool
5. Using Boot-Repair
6. Fix the windows 10 bootloader within the terminal

1. Get a disk including Boot-Repair

Making a live USB drive of Boot-Repair-Disk (a disc that launches Boot-Repair automatically) and booting from it is the simplest way to utilize Boot-Repair.

Installing the ISO on a live USB is advised (e.g., via UnetBootin, LiliUSB, or Universal USB Installer). If your boot is in EFI mode, do not copy it to a DVD.

2. Rebuild GRUB

The Windows MBR file may occasionally be problematic for the GRUB menu to find on your discs.

The first step would be to see if Linux can recognize Windows 10 on a system. Use the command that follows to accomplish it.

sudo os-prober

The program above will search your drives in the menu for other operating systems installed. If Windows is found, the output will look like this.

The GRUB configuration file can be rebuilt if the procedure above successfully locates the Windows 10 operating system. Use the following command to accomplish that.

sudo update-grub

The command above searches all the partitions on your local drive to check for any installed operating systems.

If Windows 10 is found, you should see an output similar to the one below. A Windows entry will also be generated automatically by the command in the configuration file.

3. Change default bootloader

We can switch the bootloader again to Windows NT if you are confident that the Windows startup file is not damaged and you haven’t accidentally deleted the contents of C Drive. 

• Start from the Windows USB and select Next on the opening screen to accomplish that. After selecting Repair Your Computer, choose Troubleshoot.

• Select “Command Prompt” on the Advanced settings screen.

• Run the following command from the command line to change the bootloader.

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \WINDOWS\system32\winload.efi

The command above will switch Windows NT from GRUB as the bootloader. When you restart your computer, Windows should load immediately because the bootloader is removed.

If you are switching from Ubuntu 19.10, you must revert to Ubuntu stable 19.04 since GRUB 2.04 is rife with issues.

4. Use the GRUB customizer tool

The GRUB configuration file should not be manually updated, plain and simple. We’ll employ a free program called Grub Customizer. 

• For the utility to download and be installed, do the following commands.

sudo add-apt-repository PPA:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer && sudo apt-get update

sudo apt install grub-customizer

• The next thing we should get to know is the position of Windows 10’s bootloader. Run the following cmd on the terminal to find that.

Lsblk

• Look for the partition with the “/boot/efi” mount point. The Windows boot manager is installed on this partition. The device name of the specific partition is required. I have sda1. Hence the boot file location is “/dev/sda1” in my instance.

• Alternatively, you might set up gnome-disk-utility, a graphical application showing discs and partitions. You may search for the EFI System partition on the menu. The partition description should appear something like this.

• Next, go to the GRUB customizer tool and make an entry by clicking the page icon at the top.
• Choose “Chainloader” as the type and “/dev/sda1” as the partition on the entry editor pop-up. You can also give the entry a fitting name. After that, press Enter.

• The entry you made will now appear in the Grub customizer menu. To sync the modifications with the existing GRUB configuration file, you must click Save.

• When you restart, Windows 10 should now be able to begin. If you’re having trouble, the boot files or Windows MBR are likely to corrupt.

5. Using Boot-Repair

• Install Boot-Repair in Ubuntu
• Either from an existing Ubuntu experience or from an Ubuntu live session (boot your machine using an Ubuntu live USB, then select “Try Ubuntu”) (if you can access it)
• Link up with the Internet.
• Press Enter after each line as you enter the following commands in a new Terminal window:

sudo add-apt-repository PPA:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y boot-repair && boot-repair

• The Create a Boot-Info Summary button should be clicked first. Said this will produce a Boot-Info diagnosis. If you wish to upload the report online to share it more readily, a pop-up will prompt you.

• Examine the diagnosis’s information. 

6. Fix the windows 10 bootloader within the terminal

• Utilize the bootable USB drive to restart.

• Launch Terminal.
• Enter after each of the following commands on the command line:
• sudo apt-get install syslinux
• sudo dd if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
• sudo apt-get install MBR
• sudo install-mbr -i n -p D -t 0 /dev/sda 
• Remember to substitute the Windows 10 system drive for sda.
• After that, reboot, and Windows 10 should start without any problems.

The second approach makes use of the Syslinux execution via the Terminal. You must execute several actions to install Syslinux and use it to fix the Windows 10 bootloader.

We encourage you to stick with the first approach if you are still getting familiar with how these operate.

The remaining stages are simple; you must change the sda input to the system drive letter for Windows 10.