FauxLiving comments on Deleting Windows from dual boot Linux/Windows computer

Deleting Windows from dual boot Linux/Windows computer (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by Demonmariner@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

33 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have a PC currently configured to dual boot Windows 10 and Linux Mint. I don't need Windows anymore, but Mint is working just fine and I'd rather avoid wiping the whole thing and starting over. Is there a safe way to just get rid of Windows?

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In almost all cases it'll be the same situation. The boot manager is pointing the wrong way. You added the entry to the 100GB drive when you (or whatever Mint uses to install) ran grub-install. You also have an existing entry for the OS on the 128GB drive.

The only way it would have worked seamlessly is if you plugged the 128GB drive into the same connection that the 100GB drive was on AND both the original OS and Mint both use grub AND install it in the same location.

It's an easy fix once you know what to look for (just run efibootmgr --unicode and you'll see the boot entries).

Apparently my 128GB is a SATA M2.

permalink

fedilink

source

parent

hideshow 2 child comments

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

I hear ya there, but..

I be getting really confused when one config boots from /dev/sda, but when I have my backup drive attached (not the boot device), it boots from /dev/sdb

Hell I dunno, I probably confused the hell out of my laptop plus myself with my cutout mod reconfiguration, but it's happy to boot from almost anything now.

Almost...

Hey, at least I know how to restore to my previous state from backup via dd 👍

permalink

fedilink

source

parent

hideshow 1 child comment

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I be getting really confused when one config boots from /dev/sda, but when I have my backup drive attached (not the boot device), it boots from /dev/sdb

Hell I dunno, I probably confused the hell out of my laptop plus myself with my cutout mod reconfiguration, but it’s happy to boot from almost anything now.

You probably just have multiple boot entries and some are higher priority, so if you plug in a drive it's boot config is higher in the boot order and since it is available it'll boot that.

Just run

efibootmgr --unicode