this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2024
29 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

48640 readers
1397 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I know this is a Linux magazine but I can't really find a lot of resources on this.

I installed fedora kinite on a second hard drive, intending to dual boot with windows, after the install finished it looks like it removed my windows boot loader.

Has anyone run into this and if so how did you correct it?

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 hours ago

Turnabout's fair play.

[–] stuner 9 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

Given that you installed Linux on a separate drive, it's likely that the Windows bootloader is perfectly fine but your BIOS chooses to prioritize the Linux disk. I would check if you can still select the Windows drive / installation in the BIOS / boot media selection.

Typically, Fedora should also add the Windows installation to its bootloader (https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/grub2-bootloader/#_adding_other_operating_systems_to_the_grub2_menu). It uses os-prober to find other operating systems. Can you post the output of sudo os-prober?

Edit: The output of lsblk -f would also be useful (though you may want to anonymize it first).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago

This is my thought as well. Why do you believe it was deleted? It’s probably still there, you’re just not booting it. Even easier, pull up your boot menu when you start your computer and see what’s there. I bet you’ll see windows and can select it?

I just can’t imagine Linux doing this. If it’s really gone, I’d seriously question what you did - (did you install to a wrong drive, did you format a partition by mistake, etc?)

[–] [email protected] 9 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Windows install will have a back up bootloader that you can copy over or you can use the install media

I’ll give the install media instructions, you can do it from your Linux install if it’s able to see the Windows files

Launch Command Prompt with Shift+F10

List Disks with

list disk

Select desired disk with

sel disk #

Create the boot partition

create partition efi size=100

Select Boot

sel partition 1

Format Boot

format fs=FAT32 quick

Assign Boot partition

assign letter=g:

Copy the boot files to the partition

bcdboot c:\Windows /s G: /f ALL

[–] [email protected] 20 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

If it is a second hard drive... Probably the win bootloader is on the first still? Check bios boot options

Maybe its destiny telling you you can do it without windows

[–] [email protected] 7 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Lol, I would love to ditch Windows completely but VR gaming still kinda needs it for now.

The BIOS boot options show only Fedora no Windows, grub only shows fedora as well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

I've actually had a good experience with ALVR lately, specifically the nightly version. WiVRn (Monado) has gotten pretty good too. You might consider testing vr on linux out again if you haven't recently.

https://lvra.gitlab.io/

[–] [email protected] 16 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

It's usually the opposite...

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds 15 points 17 hours ago

"Well well well how the turntables..."

[–] ikidd 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

You can also install ReFind and it'll find all bootable partitions when it boots next time, but it'll probably look a lot messier than Grub until you figure out how to mask the extra entries you'll get for the Fedora stuff.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 15 hours ago

VENGANZA!!!

[–] vikingtons 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Which index were these disks arranged in? Windows will install its bootloader on 0 regardless of where you physically install the OS.

I like to keep OS disks self contained, and tend to completely remove other connected disks when conducting a new install. This is a must for Windows, I've not had a Linux distro place it's bootloader in anything other than the OS destination.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I'll have to double check when I get home, but is it possible to restore the windows bootloader to the windows disk, if not I can always reinstall Windows but would prefer to not if I can help it.

[–] visor841 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I haven't done it in a bit, but you should be able to do Windows startup repair from a USB (possibly a Windows install USB), which I believe can restore the bootloader. I'd recommend disconnecting all drives other than the Windows one when doing the repair.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago

yeah disconnecting the fedora drive while doing repairs is important.

Always unplug your Linux drives when doing windows work, makes your life easier.

I once borked my windows install because I left the designated (not yet installed) Linux drive plugged in - then windows decided for some God forsaken reason to install the bootloader on the Linux disk. Had to copy the bootloader from install disk like someone else in this thread already typed out.