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02-18-2015, 10:00 AM
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#1
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Rep: 
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Delete MBR file from BCD
Did it again!
Last week, with help from this forum, I was able to install Linux Mint 17.1 dual boot with Windows 8.1. It worked so well, I decided to explore other Linux distros recommended by forum members as some I wanted to check out.
I was using Unetbootin to download and install these as live sessions on my Windows 8.1 partition.
On my last such download, something went wrong, and no doubt I caused the error, but no clue as to how.
When I opened up this PC, I got the normal dual boot option for Windows and Mint. When I selected Windows, I found an additional dual boot option between it and Unetbootin! Somehow I created a partition (?) on my C Drive for Unetbootin (see Thumbnail below).
This Unetbootin option only goes to a page for me to choose another OS. Further, when I rebooted, the Windows/Mint dual boot option no longer existed, just the Windows/Unetbootin one.
Been checking out various articles and websites about BCD/MBR repair, but nothing definitive (that I can understand) about modifying these to delete the Unetbootin partition and restoring the Windows/linux dual boot.
Naturally, this is a newbie land mine area, so I'm very reluctant to try anything I can't fully understand, which is the category everything I've Googled on this topic falls into.
Anyone know how I can resolve this short of a complete start over
installation based on steps that basically a PC fence post can follow?
TIA
Cheers!
Last edited by gdokoupil; 02-18-2015 at 10:03 AM.
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02-18-2015, 04:17 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,270
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Kind of confusing.
It looks like grub is loading to a choice. Then you go to bcd (chainloaded) for another choice. Now you want to edit bcd, is that correct?
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02-18-2015, 05:55 PM
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#3
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Original Poster
Rep: 
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Hello Jefro,
What I want to do is to get rid of the Unebootin partition and return to the original Windows/Linux dual boot that worked great until this incident.
Since the Unebooten path is MBR, it seemed logical that deleting that would undo it from the BCD. Just guessing on my part. If that is correct and this Unebooten thing can be deleted, I still have no idea how to restore the dual boot to Linux mint.
The only real solution I know of is reinstalling Windows with a complete HDD wipe, and then re installing Linux Mint. I would like to do that only as a last resort, unless it is my only viable option based on my total lack of understanding how to accomplish what I want to do.
Thank you for taking the time to reply Jefro.
Cheers.
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02-19-2015, 06:35 AM
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#4
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LQ Guru
Registered: Sep 2011
Location: Upper Hale, Surrey/Hants Border, UK
Distribution: One main distro, & some smaller ones casually.
Posts: 5,773
Rep: 
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Looks like you have UEFI, so everything else needs to be booted from the EFI partition on your disk.
Unetbootin should have been installed to your Linux distro, & run from there.
Your computer can only use one system to boot, either the old mbr/bios or uefi/gpt, I'd stay with uefi/gpt as you are just learning. So, if a distro doesn't offer to install in uefi mode, don't try that distro; it will save you having lots of problems.
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02-19-2015, 04:52 PM
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#5
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Original Poster
Rep: 
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Solved, sort of.
Hello Fatmac,
Since I'm learning! That's hitting the nail on the head! I have already found out more than I want to know about the MBR/BCD aspects of a PC. Certainly I've learned enough to become even more dangerous!
I have decided on a solution. I'm wiping everything off the HDD and staring over! LOL
Cheers, and thank you for your post!
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02-19-2015, 06:36 PM
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#6
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Moderator
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,270
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That is one way to fix it. 
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02-19-2015, 11:20 PM
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#7
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Feb 2015
Posts: 20
Original Poster
Rep: 
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Hi Jefro. Imagine that? I spent a week trying to figure out how to resolve this the hard way, and a few hours today resolving it the easy way. Go figure! LOL
Thanks again for posting.
Cheers!
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