I messed up the Linux setup and don’t know what to do next.
I messed up the Linux setup and don’t know what to do next.
Hello, I’m feeling quite confused. This has happened a few times before, especially since I haven’t used UEFI much lately. I was attempting to dual boot Kali Linux and Windows 10 on my Dell XPS 13 9350, but Kali wasn’t recognizing the SSD. After some research, I found out the laptop is set to RAID mode instead of ACHI. I downloaded the Windows drivers to switch it, changed the BIOS settings, and now Windows won’t boot properly—only a legacy boot option remains. The system thinks there’s an SSD but can’t tell Windows it’s active. Previously, it would enter repair mode before the fresh Windows install, but now it just won’t start at all. I reset everything to defaults on the XPS and reinstalled Windows 10, but the issue persists. When I remove the installation media, Windows detects the SSD, yet it still can’t boot. I’m really sorry for the mistakes—I should have followed the guides better. I was more confident than I should have been. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This laptop is used for school and I just graduated, so I deleted everything and backed up important files to my desktop. Maybe wiping it clean and starting fresh would help. I’ve also dual booted Ubuntu before, which led to similar problems this time.
I recently got a fresh Windows update, but I’ve also managed to install Windows again. Still focused on getting Linux running on it.
Run AHCI with Linux because its RAID setup is essentially a software-based solution. A dedicated solid-state drive tailored for your preferred Linux distribution might offer better satisfaction. This allows booting in different modes via the BIOS. I’m more traditional and don’t use UEFI, which adds complexity. From what others say, turning off secure boot and enabling AHCI is ideal. I don’t know your hardware details. When you were deciding between Windows and Linux, you likely favored Windows. Your preference counts. By the way, NeoSmart’s Easy BDC was a convenient option for dual-boot setups in the past—though it may now require payment. It wasn’t necessary when I used it earlier. (Just a note, not spam.) Perhaps it remains the simplest path, but Windows users often pay for it. I’m not paying.
I restored the system and reinstalled Windows completely from scratch. Right after, I discovered an article matching my problem. I had to boot into safe mode, disable RAID in BIOS, then switch to AHCI before Windows loaded. After that, a normal reboot succeeded. The installation proceeded smoothly on USB, using Kali Linux’s bootloader to pick between Windows or Kali. Thanks for the tip. I’m excited to explore coding and networking instead of just being a tech enthusiast.
Great job figuring this out, @alexbianchi15! Practical experience always wins with GNU/Linux. You'll succeed if you stay persistent! Don't overlook PERL either—it might surprise you with its usefulness.