If your PC now starts Windows without offering Ubuntu, first check whether the Ubuntu or GRUB entry is still available in the firmware boot menu. If it is, you may only need to change boot priority. If the entry is missing or GRUB is damaged, use Ubuntu live media to diagnose and repair the boot setup. The symptom does not, by itself, prove that Windows erased GRUB.
First determine what is failing
A computer can start Windows directly for two different reasons: firmware may be choosing Windows Boot Manager even though Ubuntu’s boot entry still works, or GRUB may actually be missing or damaged. A third case is that GRUB starts but no longer lists Windows. These require different remedies, so identify which one you have before making changes.
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Check the firmware boot menu
- Restart the computer and open its one-time boot menu or firmware setup. The key and menu labels vary by manufacturer; consult the computer’s own startup instructions if needed.
- Look for an Ubuntu entry, or another entry associated with the Linux bootloader, and select it once.
- If Ubuntu or GRUB starts, use the firmware setup to put that working entry ahead of Windows Boot Manager in the boot order. Save the change and restart.
If Ubuntu is absent from the one-time menu, or selecting it fails, continue with a live Ubuntu session rather than assuming a boot-order change will fix it.
Confirm UEFI or legacy mode before repair
Ubuntu uses different bootloader paths for UEFI and legacy BIOS setups: the UEFI GRUB loader is not interchangeable with the legacy grub-pc route. Boot the Ubuntu live USB in the same firmware mode used by the installed system. Repairing in the wrong mode can leave the installation’s boot setup unchanged or create additional confusion.
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If you are unsure which mode the installation uses, pause before running a repair. The machine’s firmware settings and the Ubuntu installation documentation for your release can help identify the applicable setup. Do not apply an MBR/legacy procedure to a UEFI installation, or vice versa.
Repair GRUB from Ubuntu live media
When the existing Ubuntu boot entry does not work, start an Ubuntu live session from installation media or a LiveUSB. The live session lets you troubleshoot without first booting the installed Ubuntu system. The Ubuntu recovery guidance and the Boot-Repair guide describe live media as the recovery route for boot problems, including GRUB no longer appearing after another operating system is installed.
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Use Boot-Repair cautiously
- Start the live Ubuntu session in the correct UEFI or legacy mode.
- Follow the Boot-Repair project’s current instructions for launching it in the live session. Availability and installation instructions can change, so use the instructions applicable to your Ubuntu release rather than relying on an old command copied from elsewhere.
- Generate and review the Boot-Info diagnostic summary before applying a repair. If the diagnosis or partition layout is unclear, seek experienced help before proceeding.
- Only if the diagnosis fits your situation, consider Boot-Repair’s Recommended Repair. Avoid changing advanced options unless you understand their effect; the project warns that inappropriate changes can make the problem worse.
- Restart and test whether the firmware now starts GRUB and whether the expected operating systems appear.
A live USB is only recovery media: the drive itself does not repair anything until you boot from it and perform the appropriate diagnosis and repair.
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If GRUB appears but Windows is missing
This is a menu-discovery or GRUB configuration problem, not necessarily a failure to restore GRUB. If Ubuntu starts and GRUB displays, but Windows is not listed, consult the GRUB instructions for your installed Ubuntu release and update the GRUB menu as directed there. Windows detection settings and commands can vary by release, so an unqualified command is not a safe universal fix.
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When to stop and get help
Pause before automatic repair if the Boot-Info report is unclear, the partition layout is unfamiliar, or repeated repairs have failed. A mistaken bootloader change can make recovery harder. If you suspect damaged EFI files or have important data at risk, consider getting help from a qualified computer repair or data-recovery professional. The available guidance does not establish a specific provider.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Windows-only boot repair is not the same fix
Microsoft’s BCDBoot documentation concerns adding a Windows installation to a Windows boot menu. It does not describe restoring Ubuntu’s GRUB menu, so it is not a direct solution when the goal is to choose between Ubuntu and Windows.
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