Boot Issues Windows 11

[mdredmond]

Hi folks. I'm running Windows 11 Pro.

I tried to install Linux on a thumb drive and somehow the installer took a dump on my boot drive. Now if I do nothing during startup, it boots to Grub.

If I choose the boot options menu, I'm presented with this list:

ubuntu
UEFI : Built-in EFI Shell
Samsung SSD 970 EVO 500GB : PART 0 : Boot Drive

Choosing the first option boots to Grub.
Choosing the second option takes me to the shell. If I navigate to fs1:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot> and run bootmgfw.efi, the system boots to windows.
Choosing the third option results in a message: "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media..."

What can I do to fix this? I want the machine to boot straight to Windows and want to get rid of that ubuntu crap.

Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

I would recreate the bootable USB installer for Windows 11 and then reinstall the OS afresh.

 

[Colif]

Easiest way is to change the bios settings

Step 1: An easy way to boot from Windows Boot Manager instead of GRUB is to simply go to UEFI Settings of your motherboard and switch up the boot priority order.

Step 2: Generally, during startup, you can press the F12 or Delete key to open up the UEFI control center. There you should find a specific configuration where the boot hierarchy is presented.

Step 3: You should find GRUB at the top followed by Windows Boot Manager. Just swap their positions by dragging or by any means necessary (it differs from one motherboard to another).

Replace GRUB With Windows Boot Manager

Today, in this article, we show how to replace GRUB with Windows Boot Manager. A small piece of software called Windows Boot Manager (BOOTMGR), which is

www.compsmag.com

 

[mdredmond]

Easiest way is to change the bios settings

The Windows Boot Manager doesn't appear in my UEFI boot devices. It's there in the filesystem if I boot to the UEFI Shell and navigate to it. But it must have gotten whacked from whatever database the system looks at when it presents the choices.

Damn I wish Ubuntu hadn't touched my drive when I was just trying to make a bootable Linux thumb drive. This seriously sucks.

I'm terrified of making anything worse.

 

[Colif]

I wonder if resetting the CMOS would change it back to defaults. EFI is just a boot option but it isn't the default one.

it seems Ubuntu uses the EFI Shell so be nice to get off it

not been in it myself but that video explains it pretty well. You don't need to fix bios. CMOS reset should do that.

 

[TerryLaze]

I tried to install Linux on a thumb drive

Why?! Linux is already bootable from usb the way you download it, you just need to "burn" the usb.

Try Ubuntu before you install it | Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.

ubuntu.com

If I navigate to fs1:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot> and run bootmgfw.efi, the system boots to windows.

Run the free (community) version of easybcd and go to bcd deployment tab and write/install a new bcd to the main disk.
You could try BCD repair but since you only have a simple BCD to just load in the main OS just writing a new one will be much easier.