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Use /boot for windows and grub?

cw flag

So, I'm about to wipe everything on my SSD and install everything from scratch.

Last time I tried to install Ubuntu, I remember that it asked for a /boot partition for grub to be installed, and I thought, does Windows have a /boot partition where I can install both, grub and have the Windows Boot manager? Or even better, can I use an already existing partition for windows to use as /boot?

Usually when I do dual boot, I tend to have this partition scheme:

sda
├─ sda1  boot (1G)
├─ sda2  EFI System (100M)
├─ sda3  Microsoft reserved (16M)
├─ sda4  Windows Root
├─ sda5  WinRE (500M)
├─ sda6  Linux Root
├─ sda7  swap
└─ sda8  Linux Home

My question is: Can I use the EFI system (where windows stores files for booting) partition to install grub and avoid having to make an extra boot partition?

ChanganAuto avatar
us flag
The ESP (EFI System Partition) is not /boot. And yes, it can and should be used for all installed OSes in a multi-boot configuration.
oldfred avatar
cn flag
UEFI systems need ESP - efi system partition as FAT32. Most desktops do not need a separate /boot partition which must be Linux format. But some server installs or LVM logical volumes may want or use a separate /boot partition. Your current sda1 looks more like a bios_grub partition which is unformatted and used only for BIOS boot with grub. If UEFI, you do not need nor want a bios_grub partition. Be sure to have good backups. And boot both Windows & Ubuntu installer flash drives in UEFI boot mode, so installs are UEFI.
ffpp.2003 avatar
cw flag
Well, I used bios based PCs for a very long time, hence the partition layout, even on a UEFI system. In theory you say that I don't need the boot partition if I'm on a UEFI system, and grub can be installed in the root partition, right?
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