How to switch from Ubuntu single-boot to Windows?

Ahmed Osman

5/7/24, 3:54 PM

I cannot install Windows from a bootable Windows USB that I create on my Ubuntu machine, I've probably used everything that could be used to make this bootable USB boot properly.

What I have tried:

Woeusb
Ventoy
dd command
Unebootin
Copying ISO file content to the USB.
Creating the bootable USB from a Windows machine.

Results are always:

Blinking underscore but no booting. (for +12 hours)
Blinking underscore for a while and Ubuntu boots instead of Windows.
Ubuntu boots instead of Windows, ignore the bootable USB no matter the boot order.
If I tried to get the GNU GRUB menu, Windows USB is not listed there.

INFORMATION:

PC Type: HP Compaq 8000 elite SSF.
Boot Mode: Legacy Bios.
Partition Table: MBR.
Operating System: Single-boot Ubuntu.

I've tried everything I came across to install Windows on this machine, and I know it's very hard to install Windows as a dual-boot after Ubuntu. So, I'm open to installing Windows only and removing Ubuntu, then reinstalling it after Windows, but the problem is that I can't even get to the installation process.

It was very easy to install Windows just with Rufus or Media Creation Tool back when I had a Windows 10 system on my machine and installed Ubuntu as a dual-boot before removing Windows. But in Linux, it's really hard, or it just might be beyond my experience in Linux.

Note: It's flawless when I try to boot from an Ubuntu USB.

0 + 6

partitioning

boot

dual-boot

windows

system-installation

Rinzwind

5/7/24, 4:02 PM

none is this is a problem with Ubuntu :) you are not following your hardware instructions. To boot from usb press the correct key to acces is: could be esc, f2, f8, f9. f10. 1; 5 min waiting is long enough . 2, 3 looks like a normal boot (prob. after a timeout) and 4: that will never work. if you want THAT method place ISO -on- the disk and alter grub settings to include windows ISO.

Rinzwind

5/7/24, 4:05 PM

"so, I'm open to installing Windows only and removing Ubuntu, then reinstalling it after Windows" that is off topic ;-) as it does not require you to have Ubuntu for that: a bootable USB with an OS (/windows) and the boot menu from your BIOS is all. "Note: It's flawless when I try to boot from an Ubuntu USB" That should indicate a problem with the USB

Ahmed Osman

5/7/24, 4:12 PM

@Rinzwind Thank you that's really helpful, esp altering grub settings, sounds very logical, I will search about it :) Actually, I used Ventoy many times, but unfortunately, when booting from the USB it comes to the blinking underscore waiting for a few minutes and then just booting into Ubuntu again. This process has been exhausting me for months, but I keep trying, because why not :)

Rinzwind

5/7/24, 4:20 PM

That blinking... I had that a lot too (I have Ventoy with 9 ISO's (1 windows 11) with windows 11 iso...a new downloaded fixed that. and this for grub+mbr works: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/453124/add-windows-10-to-grub2-bootloader Make sure your ISO works with MBR. It will crash if it is expecting efi

Ahmed Osman

5/7/24, 4:33 PM

@Rinzwind I can't thank you enough, you even gave me the resource to help me modify the GRUB and fix the booting issue, I'm deeply grateful for your generosity :)

Rinzwind

5/7/24, 5:49 PM

make what you did an answer and accept it ;=) it will help others

Elon Musk

I sit in a Tesla and translated this thread with Ai:

EN: How to switch from Ubuntu single-boot to Windows?

Post an answer

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