I recently had a dual boot setup on my laptop with Windows 10 and Ubuntu 19.04. I encountered some issues with Ubuntu and decided to delete it and reinstall it as suggested.
To do this, I deleted the Ubuntu partition using the “create and format hard disk partitions” application on Windows. However, I did not realize that I also needed to delete GRUB, the bootloader that allows me to choose between different operating systems at startup.
I then inserted a flash drive with Ubuntu on it (which I had used previously to install the operating system) and went to the boot menu of the laptop. I selected the option to boot from the flash drive and it booted into GRUB.
However, instead of showing the usual Ubuntu and Windows boot options, it displayed the following message:.
GNU GRUB version 2.02
Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible device or file completions.
grub>
What can I do to boot the device into Windows so I can uninstall GRUB and reinstall Ubuntu?
3 Answers
Introduction
Dual booting is a popular option among laptop owners who need to use different operating systems for various purposes. However, it is not uncommon to encounter some issues when setting up or managing a dual boot system. One of the most common problems is the inability to boot into one of the operating systems due to issues with the bootloader. This blog post will provide a step-by-step guide on how to fix dual boot problems on a laptop, specifically how to uninstall GRUB and reinstall Ubuntu.
Step 1: Create a Windows Recovery Drive
The first step in fixing dual boot problems on a laptop is to create a Windows recovery drive. This will allow you to access the Windows recovery environment, which is essential for uninstalling GRUB and reinstalling Ubuntu. Here are the steps to create a Windows recovery drive:
1. Connect a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage to your laptop.
2. Open the Start menu and search for “Create a recovery drive.”
3. Click on the “Create a recovery drive” option that appears in the search results.
4. Follow the prompts in the Recovery Drive wizard to create the recovery drive.
Step 2: Boot from the Windows Recovery Drive
Once you have created the Windows recovery drive, you need to boot your laptop from it. Here are the steps to do this:
1. Insert the Windows recovery drive into your laptop.
2. Restart your laptop and press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu. This key varies depending on your laptop model but is typically F12 or Esc.
3. Select the option to boot from the USB drive.
4. Follow the prompts in the Windows recovery environment to access the Command Prompt.
Step 3: Uninstall GRUB
Now that you have accessed the Command Prompt in the Windows recovery environment, you can uninstall GRUB. Here are the steps to do this:
1. Type “diskpart” into the Command Prompt and press Enter.
2. Type “list disk” and press Enter to display a list of all the disks on your laptop.
3. Identify the disk that contains the Ubuntu partition. This disk will typically be smaller than the Windows disk and may have a Linux file system type.
4. Type “select disk X” (replace X with the number of the Ubuntu disk) and press Enter.
5. Type “list partition” and press Enter to display a list of all the partitions on the Ubuntu disk.
6. Identify the partition that contains the Ubuntu operating system. This partition will typically be larger than the other partitions and may have a Linux file system type.
7. Type “select partition Y” (replace Y with the number of the Ubuntu partition) and press Enter.
8. Type “delete partition override” and press Enter to delete the Ubuntu partition.
9. Type “exit” and press Enter to exit the Diskpart utility.
Step 4: Repair the Windows Bootloader
Now that you have uninstalled GRUB, you need to repair the Windows bootloader. Here are the steps to do this:
1. Type “bootrec /fixmbr” into the Command Prompt and press Enter.
2. Type “bootrec /fixboot” and press Enter.
3. Type “bootrec /scanos” and press Enter.
4. Type “bootrec /rebuildbcd” and press Enter.
5. Follow the prompts in the Bootrec utility to rebuild the Windows bootloader.
Step 5: Reinstall Ubuntu
With the Windows bootloader repaired, you can now reinstall Ubuntu. Here are the steps to do this:
1. Insert the Ubuntu installation media (USB flash drive or DVD) into your laptop.
2. Restart your laptop and press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu.
3. Select the option to boot from the Ubuntu installation media.
4. Follow the prompts in the Ubuntu installer to install the operating system.
Step 6: Update the GRUB Configuration
Once you have reinstalled Ubuntu, you need to update the GRUB configuration to recognize the Windows operating system. Here are the steps to do this:
1. Open a Terminal window in Ubuntu.
2. Type “sudo update-grub” and press Enter.
3. Wait for the update to complete.
4. Restart your laptop.
Conclusion
Dual booting can be a convenient way to use different operating systems on a laptop. However, it is important to know how to fix dual boot problems when they arise. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can uninstall GRUB and reinstall Ubuntu, allowing you to use both operating systems without any issues. Remember to always create a Windows recovery drive before making any changes to your laptop’s boot configuration.
To boot into Windows from the GRUB command line, you will need to follow these steps:
- At the GRUB command line, type the following command and press Enter:
set root=(hdX,Y)
Replace X with the number of the drive that contains the Windows installation and Y with the partition number of the Windows partition. For example, if Windows is installed on the first partition of the first hard drive, you would type set root=(hd0,1).
- Type the following command and press Enter:
chainloader +1
- Type the following command and press Enter:
boot
This should boot the laptop into Windows. Once you are in Windows, you can go to the “create and format hard disk partitions” application and delete the Ubuntu partition. Then you can follow the usual process to install Ubuntu on the laptop.
If you are unable to boot into Windows using these steps, you may need to boot from a Windows installation media (e.g. a USB or DVD) and use the repair options to fix the boot configuration.
If you are unable to boot into Windows using the above steps, there may be an issue with the Windows boot configuration or with the Windows installation itself. In this case, you may need to boot from a Windows installation media (e.g. a USB or DVD) and use the repair options to fix the boot configuration. Alternatively, you can try using the Windows Recovery Environment to repair the Windows installation.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you have a backup of your important files and data before attempting any repairs or reinstallations, in case something goes wrong.
I hope this information is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
To fix a problem with GRUB, first try rebooting the system. Once it is booting up, press F12 to access the boot options menu. From there, choose “Windows Boot Manager” and press enter. This should boot the system into Windows. Once you are signed in, follow the instructions in the first solution on this page. After you have completed the steps in the solution, reboot the system to test if it is working properly. If the system boots directly into Windows without displaying GRUB, then the solution was successful.