Windows caused issues during the Linux installation process.

Anna908
Junior Member

03-12-2021, 01:04 PM

Hello everyone, I installed Linux on my SSD and later tried to run Windows 11 on the second SSD. When I removed the Windows installation and attempted to boot back into Linux, I encountered a blue screen with an error saying the Windows boot files were missing. In the BIOS, the SSD no longer shows as Popos but instead lists it as Windows boot. My question is: did Windows break my Linux installation? And how can I get it to boot again? Also, the SSD is encrypted like usual, but I found some free partitions that are unencrypted. When I booted Linux from a live USB, the main partition still shows as encrypted and has Popos on it, but it doesn’t boot properly.

Anna908

03-12-2021, 01:04 PM #1

WilsonWDG
Junior Member

03-12-2021, 02:58 PM

Follow every suggestion from the forum, but if that doesn’t work, reinstall POP OS again since they offer a recovery partition—your data should be safe. Just note that Manjaro’s POP is quite simple.

WilsonWDG

03-12-2021, 02:58 PM #2

derk4321
Senior Member

482

03-13-2021, 06:11 PM

Firstly, I'd check in the BIOS to see if there is an EFI boot option for POP OS. It may have reverted to Windows. If its using legacy boot, this will be a whole lot more complicated to fix although it may be that POP OS lets you reinstall as an upgrade where it would pull the encryption keys automatically from the existing install.

derk4321

03-13-2021, 06:11 PM #3

drycustard
Member

03-13-2021, 07:11 PM

FYI: cardinal rule for windoze dual boot with linux -- install windows first -- and https://www.minitool.com/partition-disk/...-boot.html Best wishes! and get rid of windows if you can! There is another alternative, but one has to pay for it.

drycustard

03-13-2021, 07:11 PM #4

ctobin8
Member

195

03-14-2021, 12:02 AM

It seems it's running in legacy mode. I believe I'll just abandon it and reinstall. Probably didn't leave any crucial files behind. Thanks for helping me understand!

ctobin8

03-14-2021, 12:02 AM #5

It seems it's running in legacy mode. I believe I'll just abandon it and reinstall. Probably didn't leave any crucial files behind. Thanks for helping me understand!

zFiire
Junior Member

03-14-2021, 10:24 AM

I’m hoping I’m not too late. The method might not be guaranteed, but it’s doable to configure a legacy boot partition using Grub. You can start with a Live Linux distribution and use GParted to adjust the legacy_boot setting—select the partition, right-click, choose Manage Flags, and uncheck the flag. Then locate GRUB’s partition, go to Manage Flags, and verify the change. I’m here to help if you need more details. Good luck! Edited January 29, 2022 by Kminh1209 spelling mistakes. Classic me

zFiire

03-14-2021, 10:24 AM #6

Xx_Elite102_xX
Member

195

03-15-2021, 07:57 PM

Just start with a live image, install the pop_os filesystems, and jump into chroot—your system is ready to run. No old boot methods required. We’ve handled this for nearly three decades on Linux.

Xx_Elite102_xX

03-15-2021, 07:57 PM #7

Just start with a live image, install the pop_os filesystems, and jump into chroot—your system is ready to run. No old boot methods required. We’ve handled this for nearly three decades on Linux.

thehappy84
Senior Member

594

03-21-2021, 03:44 PM

At the end I had to remove the BIOS to get it to work, I don’t know why but it refused to boot even after installing the new system fresh. Once I reset the BIOS, it functioned properly.

thehappy84

03-21-2021, 03:44 PM #8

At the end I had to remove the BIOS to get it to work, I don’t know why but it refused to boot even after installing the new system fresh. Once I reset the BIOS, it functioned properly.