Remove dual boot - Ubuntu


  1. Posts : 22
    Windows 10 Home 64 bit
       #1

    Remove dual boot - Ubuntu


    Hi,

    I am running Widows 10 on a UEFI/EFI/GPT system. I'd like to try and install a Linux OS on another partition. Installing is not a problem my question relates to if I decide to remove Ubuntu, how will I repair my Window's bootloader? I've been doing a lot of reading on line. My question today is: Many of these sights mention using a repair drive, and in a command prompt, type in the command bootrec.exe /fixmbr. Doesn't this only relate to BIOS not EFI? Even though I do my searches with "UEFI" in the search. I'm no expert for sure but I thought EFI does not use the MBR.

    Thank you,
    Ed
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,059
    windows 10
       #2

    use imaging software to image the uefi partion
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 22
    Windows 10 Home 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    So use Macrium Reflect and make an image of the EFI system partition BEFORE I install Ubuntu? Then, if I choose, I can delete the volume containing Linux, restore the image to the EFI partition and my boot record will be back to the way it was? I didn't even know that partition could be backed up. Sounds nice.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,059
    windows 10
       #4

    Best to back that and system as well
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #5

    Hi there

    Easiest way is simply :

    1) From Windows install media - boot it up and choose REPAIR Windows -- that should fix the boot loader

    2) Now when installing LINUX - it can install on any partition - set the bootloader to load on the HDD you want to boot from -- most DECENT distros give you the option of which disks to use and no other disk will be touched.

    I'd recommend centos as it's the easiest for installing to specific disks - other distros are often "dumbed down" to make it ostensibly easier - but then you don't get any choice as to where to install.

    With centos choose create partitions Manually and select the HDD you want to use - you can also set the boot HDD too.

    When creating manually create at least these partitions

    / (for root, system etc etc) this should hold all installed stuff etc.

    /swap should be around 50% size of Ram

    /home -- for your data etc

    /boot for kernels and boot loader -- around 1GB should be more than enough

    if using Centos install SAMBA and ntfs-3g to read / write windows files and share with windows

    If other distros allow flexibility with HDD's then use distro of your choice -- partitions should have the same scheme as above for simplified installation.

    It's best where possible to ensure GRUB2 (The Linux boot loader) does NOT get written to the default Windows boot HDD (unless you want it to --I prefer to keep the OS'es 100% separate).


    Also rather than have a MEGA LARGE /home partition if you have a spare partition create a partition and simply add it as a mount point after boot -- that way you can keep adding to your data files as much as you like -= of course your own workflow is what suits you best though.

    In the diagram shown I've set partitions out for a 16 GB RAM Nas server system with an SSD. The 4 HDD's marked md are 2 X 2 RAID 0 config, /dev/sdb and /dev/sdb1 partitions are my /boot (it'ss on an internal micro sd card - this machine can boot from a micro sd card) and the rest are all on a 256 GB SSD (which also has 2 X VM's on it.

    For filesystem use ext4 it's fast and reliable (and repairable) simply ensure partition is unmounted then as root / sudo format the partition as follows : mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdx where sdx is your partition.

    To reclaim "reserved" / superuser space after you've formatted the partition(s) with the command decribed above then simply as sudo or root type : tune2fs -m 0 /dev/sdx where again sdx is your partition.


    Remove dual boot - Ubuntu-snapshot8.png

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 73
    win 10
       #6

    very lovely, I was thinking of dual booting my sys again, thanks very much that info sorted me right out
      My Computer


 

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