Grub - Add windows

[oldfred]

Gparted shows the flag as bios_grub.
Attached is old screen shot, but newer one is the same with updated graphics.

Did you leave it unformatted? It only needs to be 1 or 2MB.

Post link to new Summary Repair from Boot-Repair.

[Macamba]

I am reluctant to try again. But if I do not do it I will not get back my preferred configuration. I probably tackle it tomorrow. In the mean time, this was the choice I made during partitioning:

[CelticWarrior]

Seems fine but, again, only 1 or 2MB is enough. Anything larger is a waste of space.

[Macamba]

Well, here goes nothing:






In seems the installation was successful. Will restart now.

Edit: While it looked like the installation completed successfully, when I booted my computer it stuck on “Verifying DMI Pool Data ....”.

Next I disconnected the Linux HD, hoping to be able to boot Windows, but I came upon the error:

error: no such device: string of hex numbers
Entering rescue mode...
grub rescue>

And that was probably something I should have expected. Now I have to reinstall Ubuntu again to a state that works (the one with uefi) so I can download a Windows disk and try to get Windows up and running again, as I have pressing business to attend to using the Windows part of my system.

Any suggestions so I cam get Ubuntu, Grub2 AND Windows running again?

[Macamba]

I booted from DVD and will put my system to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.

[oldfred]

Post this before doing anything else.

Lets see details, use ppa version with your live installer (2nd option) or any working install, not Boot-Repair ISO:
Please copy & paste the pastebin link to the Boot-info summary report ( do not post report), do not run the auto fix till reviewed.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair &
https://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair/home/Home/

[Macamba]

Post this before doing anything else.

Lets see details, use ppa version with your live installer (2nd option) or any working install, not Boot-Repair ISO:

I don't know how to proceed. Do I start with the installation process ('Install Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS' icon in my Unity Launcher (the bar to the left))? I take it you are not talking about the 'Updates and other software' part of the installation process (FWIW, I choose 'Normal installation', 'Download updates while installing Ubuntu' and 'Install third-party software ...'), But the obvious place to do something would be the next window/part of installation process, the 'Installation type' but the second choice would be 'Erase disk and install Ubuntu, and I don't want to loose my /home. And the 'Advanced features ...' button has nothing that implies to have something to do with PPA version.

[tea for one]

oldfred is asking you to create a report from boot-repair.

Boot into a live Ubuntu session using your usb/dvd device.
Open Firefox and navigate to this site https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
2nd option as follows:-

2nd option : install Boot-Repair in Ubuntu

- either from an Ubuntu live-session (boot your computer on a Ubuntu live-CD or live-USB then choose "Try Ubuntu")

- connect to the Internet

- open a new Terminal, then type the following commands (press Enter after each line):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair

[Macamba]

oldfred is asking you to create a report from boot-repair.

Facepalm moment :-}

Thanks:
https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/frGh3gFkgm/

By the bye, a “Verifying DMI Pool Data ....” error message implies hardware troubles. I did not change my hardware configuration, or change my BIOS (much, only from booting from HD, to DVD, and back to HD).

[tea for one]

Your boot-repair report is revealing some details, which probably explains your dilemma:-

Lines 119 - 121 3 operating systems
Lines 152 - 153 2 drives with mixed partition tables and only sdb contains EFI system partition (esp)
Line 397 Windows in Legacy mode, yet PC boots in EFI mode

The current best practice is to boot both Windows and Ubuntu in EFI mode.

Therefore, in order to be trouble-free for the future, I would suggest some radical action:-

Back up all your data from Windows and Ubuntu
Install Windows in EFI mode with GPT on sda
Disable, de-activate or remove drive sda
Install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS in EFI mode with GPT on sdb
Verify integrity of both OS by booting via UEFI screens (or boot menu)
When you are satisfied that it is OK, restore your data.

I realise that this is a time-consuming task but this thread is now 6/7 days old without a successful outcome.

Worth considering?