Score:0

Replace Drive with Ubuntu on it

in flag

I tried dual booting Windows 10 and Ubuntu 20.04 on different hard drives, but messed up the installation of Ubuntu (It seems like I didnt create a partition for Ubuntu and installed it on the whole second drive). I can still access Windows and want to repeat the installation, but one thing is really weird for me:

When I first tried to access Ubuntu after installing it, it entered grub rescue mode. I unplugged the drive with the Ubuntu files (It is not a USB drive, just a removable one) and restarted. When I tried to access Windows, it still entered grub rescue mode, isnt grub just a linux thing?

However, I got Windows to work with the installation disk, but now I am not sure if it is safe to just replace the drive with another one and repeat the installation, or if this will mess things up.

Help would be appreciated!

Mark Kirby avatar
cn flag
Does this answer your question? [How to remove Ubuntu and put Windows back on?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/133533/how-to-remove-ubuntu-and-put-windows-back-on)
user535733 avatar
cn flag
The hardware does not know your intent; it loads the GRUB bootloader in order to offer you a choice between Ubuntu and Windows. If you choose Windows, GRUB then launches the Windows bootloader. The Windows bootloader cannot launch Ubuntu (if it could, you wouldn't need GRUB).
oldfred avatar
cn flag
Grub's default install location is the first drive seen, usually a Windows drive if you have two or more drives. If UEFI you should always be able to directly boot Windows from UEFI boot menu. Grub only boots working Windows & the part of grub that starts boot, needs the rest of the install to fully boot grub. http://askubuntu.com/questions/743095/how-to-prepare-a-disk-on-an-efi-based-pc-for-ubuntu Also any second drive https://askubuntu.com/questions/16988/how-do-i-install-ubuntu-to-a-usb-key-without-using-startup-disk-creator & https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1396379
in flag
Sorry, the post doesnt really answer my question: to put it simply, can I just remove the Ubuntu Drive and install a new one to repeat the installation?
oldfred avatar
cn flag
You do not need new drive, just use Something Else and reinstall But best to have an ESP on second drive, so you can have Windows & Ubuntu totally separate, but not required. And Ubuntu's Ubiquity installer will still default to Windows drive's ESP, see bug report (old but still valid).
in flag
Ok, thanks. But could I technically use a second one in my case(I already have another one so I dont need to buy a new one)?
Nmath avatar
ng flag
Why do you think you need to replace or buy another drive? You can format/erase it. It's not like installing Ubuntu made the drive unusable
in flag
If it will not cause further complications, I will format it, thanks
Nmath avatar
ng flag
Hard drives are not like single use CDs... Sectors can be reused and overwritten thousands and thousands of times. Formatting a disk removes the partition table and file systems so the drive is functionally empty and then you can create a new partition(s) or file system(s). The "Disks" application run from a live session (Try Ubuntu) can do these tasks and is user-friendly and easy-to-use
cc flag
For your second drive, put partitions on it for a 300MB FAT EFI, your root (50MB+ EXT4), and optionally swap and home. The bug report 1396379 gives workarounds for getting the grub/shim bootloaders onto that drive (easiest to unplug/disable the first drive during install). Then you may put the new drive as first in boot-order, and select ubuntu or windows in grub. Without the second disk, the Windows bootloader should run. And do add yourself to the bug's "Does this affect me?" list.
in flag
Thanks for your responses, one last thing: I currently have grub installed on my C: Drive with Windows on it. If I format the second Harddrive and install the grub bootloader on it while grub is also on the C drive, will this break things?
in flag
Important: I have legacy BIOS, not UEFI
Nmath avatar
ng flag
GRUB is not on the same drive as your Windows installation. You must be mistaken. Anytime you install operating systems, there is a chance you can break things, especially if you are inexperienced. Always have backups. MBR/legacy is not conducive to dual-boot configurations due to the strict partition limit of 4 partitions. If I were you, I'd format (erase) all disks using GPT/UEFI and reinstall both operating systems.
in flag
Ok, however, grub is installed on the Windows drive as seen in the third comment on this post. I think I have found a way to delete it using cmd, so I will do that and format my Ubuntu drive. I dont really want to reinstall both OS, I only have two drives so I will be good with only 4 partitions, I found some tutorials detailing the Ubuntu installation with legacy bios, that should work for me. I have also made backups, just in case
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