this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[SOLVED] Installing Linux distro without breaking Windows install (lemm.ee)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Parptarf@lemm.ee to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Solution: When I formatted all my drives to install Linux on one and Windows on the other, I kept both connected and they share EFI boot partition as a result. Every time I reinstall Linux it formats the drive and therefore deletes the Windows's EFI Boot as well. One way is to fix this is to reinstall Windows while disconnecting the drive you have Linux on. Or you can move the boot files if you don't want to do that.

I used this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/changing-windows-boot-manager-drive.3571420/post-21561626

Also remember to delete the Microsoft folder in the boot folder on Linux after you’ve checked that the new boot loader is working.

OP:

Currently dual booting as I need Windows for a few tasks and ganes Linux just won’t do. Since setting everything up I’ve reinstalled Linux twice, both times I’ve lost the ability to boot into windows and have needed to reinstall it.

Disk doesn’t show at all in Grub, tried all kinds of things but it just doesn’t show as a bootable OS. It doesn’t show in the boot options in the BIOS or the boot menu for my motherboard. Drive shows up and all the files are still on it. So my guess is the Windows bootloader somehow installs on the same disk that I have Linux on.

I run Linux(Fedora) and Windows on two separate drives.

Windows take forever to install. Anything I can do now to prevent this from happening if I need to reinstall Linux or if I wanna to some distro hopping?

Just to be clear, everything is working right now. But I want to prevent having to reinstall Windows every time I change distro or reinstall my Linux OS

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[–] unce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You could use a separate drive for Linux.

[–] Parptarf@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I am. Windows is on a 2.5" Sata SSD while Linux is on an Nvme M.2 drive

[–] unce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Hmm. Windows shouldn't be putting anything on the Linux drive. Maybe disconnect the other drive before installing Windows.

[–] Parptarf@lemm.ee 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It shouldn’t, but that’s about the only thing I can think of that does this. I already know how to find windows in grub again, but it’s also gone from the BIOS boot options and it happens very specifically after installing Linux on the other disk.

Already installed Windows again so I can’t do that. But I could disconnect the Windows drive when I install Linux.

Maybe asking this on a Windows sub would be easier? I suspect this is a Windows issue and not a Linux one but I’m honestly not sure.

[–] unce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago

Yeah you could try installing Linux with the Windows drive disconnected. I had Windows and OpenSUSE Tumbleweed installed with two drives on my old PC without any issues.