0

I am a newbie in the Ubuntu territory. I installed Ubuntu 20.04 on my Windows 10 PC for dual boot. I have three SSDs. I installed Ubuntu in one of them. (I followed this instruction: https://www.tecmint.com/install-ubuntu-alongside-with-windows-dual-boot/. But I didn't’ create the /home partition.) The Windows is in another SSD. The last SSD is just for saving some personal data.

I have three problems:

  1. When I rebooted the system after installation, Grub didn’t show up. I wanted a dual-boot, so I searched for an answer. I found that I had to edit /etc/default/grub file (e.g., Why is Grub menu not shown when starting my computer?). I did it, and Grub showed up. Grup shows up

  2. But now I didn’t see a Windows 10 menu in the Grub window. I searched for an answer again and modified as advised here: GRUB does not detect Windows. I was able to see a Windows 10 menu in the Grub window.

  3. But when I clicked on the Windows 10 menu, Grub said something like “invalid UEFI.”

Here are some things about my system that I think might help you to understand it.

  1. I found that there is no file in the /efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot folder. Is this related to the third problem above, "invalid UEFI"?

  2. When I clicked on the ubuntu menu on Grub, it often took forever to boot. It seems that the system froze there. To avoid, I had to remove the Grub menu by again changing the /etc/default/grub file. I changed GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu -> GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden. Then, ubuntu boots normally.

  3. When I clicked the Advanced options for Ubuntu on the Grub screen, I find two different “versions” of Linux. One is Linux 5.4.0-42-generic, and the other is 5.4.0-52-generic. (I installed and deleted ubuntu several times already before this round. Is this the reason that I see two different versions?). Two different "versions" of linux

  4. This may be related to 3) just above. When I type sudo update-grub, the system says that it finds two images. See the screenshot. Two images of linux. (In fact, I had to install and unistall ubuntu several times before.)

  5. Finally, when I want to boot Windows (after using Ubuntu), Windows goes through the disk checking process. It boots normally, but it goes through the process anyway. Is this normal? Windows goes through a disk-check process

  6. Finally, my BIOS shows three booting options: One ubuntu and two Windows 10.

I can still dual-boot by changing the boot order in the BIOS setup every time I want to use the other system. But entering the BIOS when I want to use the other system is not convenient. I want to use Grub. But I have the three problems above. I would appreciate if anyone could help me to resolve these issues. Finally and if I am bit more ambitious, I would like to make Windows the "default" OS in Grub. Is this possible?

Paul
  • 1
  • Make sure Windows fast start up is off: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1288661/windows-10-doesnt-start-after-setting-up-dual-boot-with-ubuntu-20-04/1288764#1288764 It is normal for Ubuntu to keep two kernels. So if new one has issues, you can boot old one. Do you have two separate ESP - efi system partitions? Windows has to have boot files in an ESP, unless it is BIOS boot. Then you cannot boot Windows from grub as UEFI & BIOS are not compatible. or grub can only boot other installs in same boot mode. – oldfred Nov 06 '20 at 21:33
  • Thanks, @oldfred. I disabled fast start up. I didn't understand the second part of your comment--the ESP thing (Windows has to have boot files in an ESP.) Can you direct me to a webpage that I can learn about ESP and Windows boot from? Thank you. – Paul Nov 06 '20 at 21:37
  • 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 Windows ESP or UEFI system partition: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-uefigpt-based-hard-drive-partitions#RecommendedPartitionConfigurations & https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI – oldfred Nov 07 '20 at 03:34

0 Answers0