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So I messed up. Like really.

But let's start from the start.

A few hours ago I decided I need Ubuntu in my life, as my work laptop was being purged for the new owner. As I am a man of my words I installed the latest version of Ubuntu.

My thought process was as follow:

  1. I have my SSD for Windows 10 and games
  2. I will use HDD for Ubuntu and work

Sounds simple, right? As I thought I did. I have formatted the HDD, created a 100GB partition and was happy to configure Ubuntu. But wait.

Why I see no GRUB!? So here goes moment 1.

Fast googling, ha! there is a solution: https://www.howtogeek.com/114884/how-to-repair-grub2-when-ubuntu-wont-boot/

I did it, once, twice, three times... No results. I tried - I hope every configuration. below one of many versions of outputs:

http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/wmHwNH8YF3/

OK - I did more research on the booting options. This is a Windows issue - no problem. I have created the win 10 booting USB and begun the fun time of fixing it - nothing worked. UNTIL. Until I figured out I will purge all of the partition except the one that is with windows and games - because... I have no clue why. Honestly, I just don't.

As I said - I am a man of my words - so I removed it all.

And now I am in a puzzle as I do not have a clue what to do next.

And I will not reinstall windows. I have there too many GB to download I just started Divinity Original Sin 2 and I loved it!

Help me out guys - as I am empty and I have no clue what to do next.

Kristopher Ives
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tzim
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    A common problem with people who install Linux on systems that already have Windows is that they don't actually shut windows down since Windows 10 goes into a "soft power off' state. This causes problems because when they turn Windows back on it starts writing information over the hard drive that was kept in memory before Windows essentially hibernated. – Kristopher Ives Dec 30 '18 at 20:10
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    Your paste shows that you still have NTFS partitions, so those files aren't lost most likely. However, I'm unable to understand what your actual question is or how to help you because the post contains too much information that may or may not be relevant. – Kristopher Ives Dec 30 '18 at 20:11
  • I believe I turned windows down. That or another the problem is I can not access windows - I can start only Ubuntu. – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:11
  • @KristopherIves what information should I provide now? – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:13
  • Trust me - I am as puzzled as you are. I do not have a clue what to do/check/adjust now. I was always believing I am a person that can handle a grub configuration. – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:13
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    It's possible Windows was installed as UEFI and Linux was not, or some other combination that doesn't match. – Kristopher Ives Dec 30 '18 at 20:14
  • @KristopherIves It is that is true. On the other hand, I was not changing anything in my BIOS and by default it was in legacy mode. – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:16
  • here is the LATEST pastebin from boot-repair tool run on default: http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/WvtcWZvPpd/ – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:16
  • the problem I see there is this: Windows not detected by os-prober on sda1. – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:17
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    In your log it says "Windows is hibernated, refused to mount." – Kristopher Ives Dec 30 '18 at 20:19
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    Like I mentioned originally Microsoft has made it very obscure of a process to actually shut Windows down completely. Almost all "regular" methods will hibernate it. – Kristopher Ives Dec 30 '18 at 20:20
  • Kind sir! Thank you! You are a lifesaver! Now to unfu... unhibernate it - I am starting my google! – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:21
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    See https://askubuntu.com/questions/204166/how-do-i-mount-a-hibernated-ntfs-partition – Kristopher Ives Dec 30 '18 at 20:25
  • One step closer - two steps back: http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/VXY5mNTzMB/

    Windows not detected on sda1.

     – tzim Dec 30 '18 at 20:36

2 Answers2

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Because your Windows drive is MBR, your Windows install is in BIOS boot mode. And since you have two drives, you should always use Something Else install option and install grub2's boot loader to Ubuntu drive. Default is normally first drive and most often sda/Window drive. But you want to keep Windows boot loader in MBR of Windows drive.

When you installed Windows was BIOS set to default boot from HDD? Windows 7 or later normally uses a separate Boot partition with two boot files, bootmgr & /boot/BCD. But you are totally missing those files. They can be in same partition as main install or c:, but normally are not. You must use Windows repair/recovery disk to fully repair Windows. Make sure BIOS is set to boot Windows drive. Only after Windows boots, then set BIOS to boot HDD and use grub to dual boot.

Also with multiple drives do not run Boot-Repair's auto-fix. That installs grub to every drive's MBR, so no matter what settings you have in BIOS, it will boot grub. You actually want BIOS set to boot Ubuntu drive, but have Windows boot loader in Windows drive. Grub only boots working Windows or Windows that is not hibernated/fast boot on. And Windows with updates will turn fast start up back on.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/843153/ubuntu-16-showing-windows-10-partitions

oldfred
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  • When you installed Windows was BIOS set to default boot from HDD - no I was booting from SSD. I believe at least.

    You are correct - as for the partition - I purged it.

     – tzim Jan 01 '19 at 14:45
  • OK - so if I understood you correctly: a) I am changing in BIOS the order of booting disks (now it is hdd > sdd). b) I am starting a recovery disck and going with the repair windows mode (this did not work before) – tzim Jan 01 '19 at 14:47
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    Windows Repair may not have worked if BIOS set to boot Ubuntu drive as Windows could not see NTFS partition with boot flag. That is where it will install/repair boot files. – oldfred Jan 01 '19 at 15:53
  • Tried. Repair found nothing, fixed nothing. – tzim Jan 01 '19 at 21:07
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    Run new copy of Boot-Repair's summary report. Need to see if you now have Windows boot files. If you have copy of bootmgr you can copy that into your Windows c: drive. And possible use third party tools to create the /boot/BCD file. Otherwise best to try a Windows forum for Windows issues. – oldfred Jan 01 '19 at 21:39
  • http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/8pT4m3fFJm/ - latest update. os-prober still don't see Windows installation. – tzim Jan 01 '19 at 22:12
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    You are now showing the BCD, but not bootmgr for Windows to boot. There may be a copy somewhere else in Windows, but do not remember. Try repairs again or ask at Windows forum. – oldfred Jan 02 '19 at 01:01
  • Question asked here: https://forum.thewindowsclub.com/windows-10-management-support/50836-windows-10-broken-mbr-bootmanager-after-dual-boot-ubuntu.html#post190531

    I am really lost, I did all I found on google. I think I will have to reinstall this whole setup.

     – tzim Jan 02 '19 at 23:30
  • If you have a Windows repair disk, does it not have a copy of bootmgr? If so copy that into your C: drive One level up from /boot/BCD or top level. – oldfred Jan 02 '19 at 23:45
  • Interesting fact - you can't. To all who are interested - I gave up, reinstalled windows again and then reinstalled Ubuntu. All works. – tzim Jan 03 '19 at 18:08
  • Make full backup and recovery/repair flash drive for Windows. And develop a good backup procedure for Ubuntu. For Ubuntu I assume I will just reinstall & restore data & settings, so I do not backup system. – oldfred Jan 03 '19 at 21:37
  • I have a similar but not identical situation, for which I'm creating the question "How can I revive a lost Window installation?" – Paul A. Nov 07 '21 at 19:32
  • @Paul A. If answers here do not help, better to start your own question. But this site is for offical flavors of Ubuntu. You may want to try a Windows forum or https://superuser.com/ – oldfred Nov 07 '21 at 21:02
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I was not able to find a solution that would allow me to have Windows working. I was able to have the Ubuntu working fine.

In a long run, I did a format and ran a clean installation of Windows.

tzim
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