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Thread: Can't boot into windows after installing Linux

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Beans
    2

    Can't boot into windows after installing Linux

    So I have two internal hard drives, /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. Windows 8.1 is installed on sda, which I have been using for years. I decided to format and install linux on sdb, not realizing that it must have contained the EFI system partition that windows has been booting off of. So now my new linux install is working great, but I cannot get back into Windows. I tried using boot-repair, but no luck there (presumably because of the lack of an EFI partition). What's the easiest way to fix this so I can get Windows booting again?

    Here's the log from boot-repair, if that helps:
    http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/TqxZdYVqQW/

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa

    Re: Can't boot into windows after installing Linux

    can you "restore" boot loader on sda using windows disk?
    Read the easy to understand, lots of pics Ubuntu manual.
    Do i need antivirus/firewall in linux?
    Full disk backup (newer kernel -> suitable for newer PC): Clonezilla
    User friendly full disk backup: Rescuezilla

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Beans
    2

    Re: Can't boot into windows after installing Linux

    I don’t actually have a cd drive. Is that possible with usb?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Beans
    7,343

    Re: Can't boot into windows after installing Linux

    You are going to need a windows installation or recovery CD or similar as you have apparently deleted your windows EFI partition. I would be very surprised if it was on a different physical drive but I don't really use windows.

    Your windows drive is GPT which means it must be EFI. Your Mint install is on a drive which is not GPT and you have it installed in the older MBR mode. Having an EFI and MBR install is always going to a problem. You should either re-install Mint EFI (have it set to boot/enable EFI before install) but you will also need to create the windows EFI partition and it's files. There is no way to do that from any Linux.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    UK
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Can't boot into windows after installing Linux

    Thread moved to MINT sub-forum.
    Ubuntu 20.04 Desktop Guide - Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop Guide - Forum Guide to BBCode - Using BBCode code tags

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