After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu  [Solved]

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Author
noursle
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat May 31, 2025 1:45 pm

After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#1 Post by noursle »

Hello,

After installing MX 23.6 on my PC, Windows disappeared from the boot menu.
I have only MX 23.6 as boot option.

Here is the output from the lsblk -f command of my PC:

NAME FSTYPE FSVER LABEL UUID FSAVAIL FSUSE% MOUNTPOINTS
sda
├─sda1 ntfs Recovery FE2E65C92E657B91
├─sda2 vfat FAT32 EC68-67B7 69.2M 27% /boot/efi
├─sda3
├─sda4 ntfs 01DB7554AE6D6870 51.6G 71% /media/sdb4
├─sda5 ext4 1.0 rootMX23 a18f6be3-6b86-4ef3-9698-4f2e19d4783a 145.1G 16% /
└─sda6 ext4 1.0 b160a8ba-9bb6-43d6-b6cb-3f60fef53b52 24G 63% /home
sdb
├─sdb1 ntfs Data 8C583E09583DF296
└─sdb2 ntfs Hörbücher 440E44140E440182
sdc
├─sdc1 ntfs PQSERVICE 06F40C7C16D9B5D2
├─sdc2 ntfs ACER 5A78B4D178B4ACDF
└─sdc3 ntfs DATA 7E787AC6787A7CA9
sdd
sr0

It would be nice if somebody could help me to add Win to the bootmenu.
In any case I enjoy a lot using MX Linux, but I have some Win applications I want to use.

Best regards,
Marcel

User avatar
fehlix
Developer
Posts: 12704
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:09 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#2 Post by fehlix »

Post QSI "Quick System Info" to be found within the menu or with the MX Welcom Screen , so we know what system is involved.
Also do post text output of commands within as code-block, so it is better readable. use [</>]tag button with the full post editor.
You can edit you first post an enclose/wrapp the lsblk out put into a code-block

noursle
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat May 31, 2025 1:45 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#3 Post by noursle »

Here is Quick System Info :

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-37-amd64 [6.1.140-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-37-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.6_x64 Libretto Jan 12  2025 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: MEDION product: Akoya P4130 D MD8302/2473 v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: MEDION model: D3F3-EM2 v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends
    v: D3EM2W0X.221 date: 03/21/2016
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Mouse serial: <filter>
    charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD A10-8750 Radeon R7 12 Compute Cores 4C+8G bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    arch: Steamroller level: v2 built: 2014 process: GF 28nm family: 0x15 (21) model-id: 0x38 (56)
    stepping: 1 microcode: 0x6003106
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x16 KiB; i-2x96 KiB
    L2: 4 MiB desc: 2x2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1973 high: 2475 min/max: 1400/3600 boost: enabled scaling:
    driver: acpi-cpufreq governor: ondemand cores: 1: 1560 2: 1397 3: 2475 4: 2461 bogomips: 28746
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: indirect_target_selection status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed mitigation: untrained return thunk; SMT vulnerable
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; STIBP: disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not
    affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Kaveri [Radeon R7 Graphics] vendor: Elite Systems driver: radeon v: kernel
    alternate: amdgpu arch: GCN-2 code: Sea Islands process: GF/TSMC 16-28nm built: 2013-17 ports:
    active: HDMI-A-1 empty: VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:01.0 chip-ID: 1002:130f class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.20.0 driver: X: loaded: radeon
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: radeon display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 509x286mm (20.04x11.26") s-diag: 584mm (22.99")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-0 model: Philips PHL 234E5 serial: <filter> built: 2014
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 96 gamma: 1.2 size: 509x286mm (20.04x11.26") diag: 584mm (23")
    ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 4.5 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: KAVERI ( LLVM 15.0.6 DRM 2.50 6.1.0-37-amd64)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Kaveri HDMI/DP Audio vendor: Elite Systems driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:01.1 chip-ID: 1002:1308 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD FCH Azalia vendor: Elite Systems driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:14.2
    chip-ID: 1022:780d class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-37-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Elite Systems
    driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Realtek B1660175533 type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 2-2:3 chip-ID: 0bda:0823
    class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 2.1 lmp-v: 4.0
    sub-v: a041 hci-v: 4.0 rev: e2f
  Info: acl-mtu: 820:8 sco-mtu: 255:16 link-policy: rswitch hold sniff park
    link-mode: peripheral accept service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio,
    telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.71 TiB used: 206.72 GiB (7.4%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: SanDisk model: SSD PLUS 480GB size: 447.14 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 00RL scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital model: WD20EZRX-22D8PB0 size: 1.82 TiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    rev: 0A80 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Western Digital model: WD5000AAKS-00TMA0 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1C01
    scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 188.31 GiB size: 184.29 GiB (97.87%) used: 29.75 GiB (16.1%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 99 MiB size: 95 MiB (95.96%) used: 25.8 MiB (27.1%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sda2 maj-min: 8:2
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 78.12 GiB size: 76.35 GiB (97.73%) used: 48.45 GiB (63.5%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda6 maj-min: 8:6
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 16 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 11.2 C mobo: N/A gpu: radeon temp: 10.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2396 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2386 libs: 1246 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 10
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/mxlinux/packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
Info:
  Processes: 230 Uptime: 42m wakeups: 5 Memory: 7.45 GiB used: 2.23 GiB (30.0%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

User avatar
fehlix
Developer
Posts: 12704
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:09 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#4 Post by fehlix »

noursle wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 2:38 pm Here is Quick System Info :

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-37-amd64 [6.1.140-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-37-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.6_x64 Libretto Jan 12  2025 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: MEDION product: Akoya P4130 D MD8302/2473 v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: MEDION model: D3F3-EM2 v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends
    v: D3EM2W0X.221 date: 03/21/2016
Boot Mode: UEFI
OK, power off. Wait some seconds. Power on and hold the Fn-key to boot into th UEFI-boot options list
I think it is F12 (?) maye another key. Normally you see the key mentioned at the bottom of the screen during POST (power up)
Within the UEFI Boot options list select Windows ... .

If you can't boot into UEFI-boot optiion list, use MX LiveUSB
and select boot at LiveBoot menu -> Boot Rescue -> search for "efi loader"
(or maybe it was a separate entry for "window efi loader" ...).

When booted into windows, disabled fast-startup, or hold the Shift key when selecting power off.
Or create a Windows shortcut Icon with:

Code: Select all

name: Full Shutdown
command: shutdown /s /t 0
When done re-start (power off and start again) into MX Linux and recreate GRUB menu with:

Code: Select all

sudo update-grub
Does it find Windows? Will the generated entry boot into Windows?

noursle
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat May 31, 2025 1:45 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#5 Post by noursle »

Hi fehlix, i tried everything, I can go to the BIOS boot menu but it is impossible to boot Windows. I also tried to boot from a USB Stick but that didn't help.
At one point I got an error: Secure boot violation but I could change the setting in the BIOS to deactivate the secure boot and then the MX Linux boot menu came again....uff!
I also saw the BIOS boot menu while pressing the F8 button, but independently of the different boot choices I could only boot MX Linux from the disk and not from the USB Live Disk.

Any idea what I could try else?
Thanx in advance...

User avatar
fehlix
Developer
Posts: 12704
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:09 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#6 Post by fehlix »

noursle wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 4:51 pm Hi fehlix, i tried everything, I can go to the BIOS boot menu but it is impossible to boot Windows. I also tried to boot from a USB Stick but that didn't help.
At one point I got an error: Secure boot violation but I could change the setting in the BIOS to deactivate the secure boot and then the MX Linux boot menu came again....uff!
Not sure what you done, "at one point" doesn't tell me much.
Your QSI above shows you have not booted with secureboot, Ohterwise QSI would show "Secureboot enabled".
So why suddently you have a secureboot violation which is only after you have enabled secureboot.
noursle wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 4:51 pm I also saw the BIOS boot menu while pressing the F8 button
I don't know what a "BIOS boot menu" is, you may mean "UEFI boot options" list?
Anything else you have "adjusted somewhere"?
And are you saying Windows does not boot from "UEFI boot options" list w/ or w/o secureboot?
noursle wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 4:51 pm but independently of the different boot choices I could only boot MX Linux from the disk and not from the USB Live Disk.
Not sure I understand. Are you saying you can not boot anymore from MX LiveUSB. Otherwise be a bit more spelled out.
You can only boot the install MX Linux through LiveBoot Rescure menu with disabled secureboot.
When you say something like "cannot boot" what does it mean? Not errors only blank black screen?
Does the rescue menu not find anymore any grub*.efi files? Or it does, but when select what happens ? No errrors?
Or does the MX GRUB menu shows up but no further boot will work etc pp. Please explain bit more.
Also, When you select search fro GRUB cfg menu files, what happens here.
noursle wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 4:51 pm Any idea what I could try else?
Boot into MX Linux, run "UEFI Manager" and add the /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi as a new entry.
Which may be show up with UEFI Boot Options list.

User avatar
fehlix
Developer
Posts: 12704
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:09 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#7 Post by fehlix »

noursle wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 2:31 pm After installing MX 23.6 on my PC, Windows disappeared from the boot menu.
Also what does this mean? What boot menu was it, before installing MX Linux.
I mean WIndows normally offers not a boot menu.

User avatar
j2mcgreg
Global Moderator
Posts: 6815
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:04 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#8 Post by j2mcgreg »

I also think that we need to know what install method you used.
HP 15; ryzen 3 5300U APU; 500 Gb SSD; 8GB ram
HP 17; ryzen 3 3200; 500 GB SSD; 12 GB ram
Idea Center 3; 12 gen i5; 256 GB ssd;

In Linux, newer isn't always better. The best solution is the one that works.

noursle
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat May 31, 2025 1:45 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#9 Post by noursle »

I don't know how to upload the pictures I took, so I will try to explain in more details.
1) Pressing F8 Key during start up:
An ugly Boot menu appeared with the following choices:
a. Windows Boot Manager: (P1: SanDisk SSD Plus 480GB)
b. MX Linux (P1: SanDisk SSD Plus 480GB)
c. MX23 (P1: SanDisk SSD Plus 480GB)
d. UEFI : JetFlash Transcend 16GB 1.00 (this is my USB Stick with the MX Live Boot image)
e. Enter setup

Independently what I choose, a-d, the LINUX MX Boot menu appears.
Only choice e, brings me to the BIOS setup menu of my PC

2) after entering the BIOS setup menu of my PC, I go to the Boot - Menu.
There I have the following choices:
a Bootup NumLock State =[On]
b Quiet Boot [Disabled]
c Set Boot Priority:
option 1: USB Key: UEFI: JetFlash
option 2: USB Hard disk
option 3 Harddisk: Windows Boot

Note: I can change the ordering, but the boot behavior is the same,nothing changes, (I also opened the PC, changed the CR2032 battery..._)

d UEFI Hard Disk Drive BBS Priorities
option 1: Windows Boot Manager
option 2: MX23
option 3: MX Linux
option 4: UEFI OS (P1 Sandisk)

e UEFI USB Key Drive BBS Priorities
option 1: UEFI: JetFlash

I hope this helps...

noursle
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat May 31, 2025 1:45 pm

Re: After installing MX23.6 Windows is missing in the dual boot menu

#10 Post by noursle »

I have done a new USB Boot stick with the Ventoy tool on another computer and I could successfully boot with that stick.
After booting with the MX LiveUSB stick I select Boot Rescue and then "Boot Rescue Menus".
Then I have the following options:
a. GRUB EFI bootloader
b. GRUB menus
c. Frugual menus
d. Windows bootloader
e. Reboot
f. Power Off
g. Reboot into BIOS/UEFI Setup

After choosing the d option, I get the message "No Windows bootloader found."

Any idea what I can do next?
Thanx in advance for your help!

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