I recently decided to revisit Linux after two decades, specifically trying out Nobara Linux on a separate SSD. Unfortunately, it didn't work well for me, so in frustration, I deleted all the Linux partitions while still in Windows. Now, I'm facing the issue where I can't boot into Windows at all because my MSI motherboard's UEFI isn't recognizing the NVMe drive where Windows is installed. To troubleshoot, I booted from a Linux Mint DVD hoping that GRUB would see Windows and allow me to add it to the boot menu, but that didn't happen. Right now, the only operating system I can use is Linux Mint, which runs fine. I switched the UEFI settings to CSM mode, and now the NVMe drive shows up, but I still can't boot into Windows. What steps can I take to resolve this issue?
2 Answers
It sounds like a frustrating situation! When you deleted the Linux partitions, it might have affected the boot configuration. First, you might want to try using a Windows installation USB or disk to repair your boot sector. Boot from the USB, select 'Repair your computer', and then go to 'Troubleshoot' > 'Advanced options' > 'Command Prompt'. From there, running commands like 'bootrec /fixmbr' and 'bootrec /fixboot' might help restore your Windows bootloader.
It's important to check your UEFI settings thoroughly. Make sure that the NVMe drive is set as the first boot option. You might also want to disable secure boot temporarily to see if that helps. If those options don't work, consider reinstalling Windows as a last resort, but hopefully, the repair options will get you back into your system!
I'll check those settings! I really don't want to reinstall if I can avoid it.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll give that a shot. Do I also need to run 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' after that?