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Asked: 2024-09-24T22:44:42+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to include Windows 11 in the GRUB boot menu on my system?

I recently decided to take the plunge and install Windows 11 alongside my existing Linux distribution. The installation went surprisingly smooth, but now I’m facing a bit of a headache with the boot process. When I restart my computer, it goes straight to my Linux system and completely bypasses Windows 11. It’s a little frustrating, and I can’t seem to figure out how to get Windows 11 listed in the GRUB boot menu.

I’ve done some research online, but I keep coming across conflicting information and it feels overwhelming. I’ve seen a few mentions of using `os-prober` and then running `update-grub`, but I’m honestly not sure how all of that fits together. Is that the right approach? Are there any specific commands I should be using? I’ve also read about manually editing the GRUB configuration file, but that sounds a bit risky; I don’t want to mess anything up.

To make things a bit clearer, my setup is fairly standard: I’ve got a fairly recent laptop that came pre-installed with Windows 10, and I upgraded to Windows 11 after shrinking the Windows partition and making space for my Linux OS. It’s running a version of Ubuntu, so if that makes a difference, let me know.

I would love some detailed step-by-step instructions on how to properly include Windows 11 in my GRUB menu. I know there might be variations depending on different distributions or setups, but any insights based on your experiences would be super helpful. Are there any pitfalls I should watch out for or essential tips you’ve learned the hard way?

Honestly, I just want an easy way to dual boot between the two without getting stuck. So, if you’ve gone through this process or have any tips, please share! Thanks a ton in advance for your help!

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    2 Answers



    1. Dual Boot Windows 11 and Linux

      How to Add Windows 11 to Your GRUB Boot Menu

      Alright, so it sounds like you’re in a bit of a pickle trying to get your Windows 11 to show up in the GRUB menu. Here’s the lowdown on what you can do to fix this.

      Step-by-Step Instructions

      1. Open the Terminal – You can find it in your applications, or just press Ctrl + Alt + T.
      2. Install os-prober – This tool helps detect other operating systems. You can install it by running: 
        sudo apt update
sudo apt install os-prober
      3. Run os-prober – Now, let’s see if it can find your Windows installation. Type: 
        sudo os-prober

        If it finds Windows 11, that’s a good sign!

      4. Update GRUB – After os-prober is done, you need to update the GRUB configuration to include Windows. Run: 
        sudo update-grub

        This command should detect Windows 11 and add it to your boot menu automatically.

      After Updating GRUB

      When you restart your computer, you should now see an option for Windows 11 in the GRUB menu. If it’s there, awesome! Just select it to boot into Windows.

      If All Else Fails

      If Windows still isn’t showing up, and you’re feeling brave, you could manually edit the GRUB config file. But I’d recommend being super careful with this. You can find the file here:

      /etc/default/grub

      Just remember to back it up first!

      Common Pitfalls

      • Make sure you are running a UEFI system if your Windows installation is UEFI.
      • Sometimes Windows can overwrite the bootloader. Make sure to confirm boot settings in your BIOS/UEFI.
      • If you have Secure Boot enabled, you might need to disable it to get everything to work smoothly.

      Final Thoughts

      Dual-booting can be a little tricky, but with these steps, you should be able to get it working! Take a deep breath and go through the steps carefully. Good luck!




    2. Dual Boot Windows 11 and Linux: GRUB Configuration

      To include Windows 11 in your GRUB boot menu, you’ll want to start by making sure that the `os-prober` package is installed on your Ubuntu system. This tool helps detect other operating systems installed on your machine. You can check if `os-prober` is installed by running the command sudo apt install os-prober in the terminal. Once it’s confirmed that `os-prober` is installed, you’ll need to run it to find other operating systems. Execute the command sudo os-prober, which should output the detected OS, typically showing Windows installation details. After this, you will run sudo update-grub to regenerate the GRUB configuration. This process should automatically add an entry for Windows 11 to the GRUB boot menu.

      If Windows 11 is still not showing after running the above commands, you may need to manually add it to the GRUB configuration file. Open the GRUB configuration file with the command sudo nano /etc/grub.d/40_custom and add the following entry at the end of the file:

          menuentry "Windows 11" {
        set root=(hd0,1)
        chainloader +1
    }

      Make sure to replace (hd0,1) with the correct partition where Windows is installed, which you can determine using the lsblk command. After adding this entry, run sudo update-grub again to apply the changes. Be cautious when editing GRUB configurations, as incorrect entries can lead to boot issues. Always have a live USB handy just in case you need to recover your system. With these steps, you should be able to dual boot smoothly between Windows 11 and your Linux distribution.


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