Help Novice Here How do I log back into Windows

[linexer2016]

I am going to attempt to attach a picture of my screen and the options it shows me. Photos were way to big.

When I disconnected my external hard drive and live usb with mx linux i got a screen that said:
............
welcome to GRUB!
error: no such device: Ob32a1d3-1793................
error: unkown filesystem.
(my screen size is worn the whole screen doesnt show)
**ub rescue>

and thats where im stuck


When I plug back in my live USB w/ mxlinux and still have my external hdd disconected, I get this screen

Welcome to MX-19.4 (patito feo)!

Mx-19.4 (march 21, 2021)
Custom x64 (24 June, 2021)
Mx-19.4 x64 custom boot (text menus)
>>>>>>>Advanced options for MX-19.4 x64<<<<<<<
Memory test (64-bit UEF)
boot rescue menus


I just didnt know if any of this was useful. Is it still looking like the best thing for me to do is to reinstall a fresh copy of windows. If so can i purchase a copy of win10 pro or home and use that. (i do have a copy of win7 on a cd if that is my only option. Im not a gammer but I do use my pc a lot, I would like to have something up to date. Naturally I assume that I am going to install on a new partition, vs on top of my old win 10. During set up of windows it will assist me making a new partition, correct? I would also like to get a linux distribution set up on a hdd vs a jump drive but my main goal is to get windows back up and going. The wife is upset, because I played with things I shouldnt have and now she cant access all of the programs she had on our win10, plus she had software and projects on their, such as the software for her cricket maker, but anyways.

Incogeeto .... when you write "...The wife is upset ..." Let me reiterate you need to ensure a clean backup (to an external device) is made before you get any further into this spiral. At the very least you should be able to do a fresh install (as I've previously suggested) and start the dual boot installations all over. As is often remarked a happy wife is a happy life :) BTW, J2Mcgregg's suggestion seems very plausible too when he/she wrote "...Priority Number 1: Boot into a live session of MX, use MX’s file manager to access the hard drive and back up the contents of My Documents, My Photos, My Music etc to a separate USB drive...."

[Incogneeto]

Based on all of the information that everyone has been willing to provide, I am going to:
1.back up all of my windows files to an external hdd
2.purchase an additional external hdd
3.download an iso file of windows10 and load it onto a usb
4.disconnect my current internal HDD (the one that has my non accessible windows on it), my current external HDD
5.connect the live USB that has windows iso on it, and the brand new HDD
6. start up pc and install windows on the new HDD
7. reconnect the other HDD's and reboot
8. mount the other drives and see what I can see

does this sound like a good plan?

[linexer2016]

Sounds ok to me Incogneeto. Perhaps it is one or two steps too much more than you could go but it is better to be sure about those Windows files and the way you've described it, it's hard to see you getting into too much bother in that regard.
As an aside, I am not sure what HDD space you need but is this a good time to purchase an SSD in lieu of an HDD? The former perform much better than a traditional hard disk drive and they can be had rather cost effectively nowadays. Good luck and I am sure all contributors to this thread will be looking forward to your success.

[j2mcgreg]

Your plan to install and run Windows on an external hard drive can be done but its going to be expensive. See here:

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-run ... -usb-drive

I don't understand why you are not just over writing your internal hdd with a new Win 11 install?

[linexer2016]

@j2mcgreg, I suspect Incogneeto is (understandably I think) a little paranoid about destroying his Windows files. By buying the additional hardware, I think he plans to keep the Windows HDD completely segregated from the (re)install process until he's got a working dual booting system and only then would he be copying over those (hopefully) undamaged files. At least this is what I suspect his plan is but no doubt we will hear from him shortly.

[j2mcgreg]

@j2mcgreg, I suspect Incogneeto is (understandably I think) a little paranoid about destroying his Windows files. By buying the additional hardware, I think he plans to keep the Windows HDD completely segregated from the (re)install process until he's got a working dual booting system and only then would he be copying over those (hopefully) undamaged files. At least this is what I suspect his plan is but no doubt we will hear from him shortly.

Yes but a simpler method for him would be to purchase a new internal hard drive for his machine to replace the old one and then install Windows on the new one. Once he's satisfied that the new install is functioning properly, he could install the old drive into a hard drive enclosure like this one:

https://www.canadacomputers.com/product ... _id=100730

and then copy over his files. This method is much less complicated than what he is proposing and it has the added bonus of giving him another external drive when he's done as all he has to do is then delete the contents of the old drive.

[seaken64]

Do you not have a local computer repair shop? Check your search engine on your phone and find a nearby computer repair shop, or a consultant who comes to you. Tell them you want to save the contents of your current drive because it has some important files for your wife. Tell them you want to put in a new drive for the OS and have that OS installed fresh. Then copy over the contents of old drive.

In the future, read and study how to install Linux BEFORE you attempt this type of multi-boot install. It is not easy if you do not know how your computer works. Sorry you've had to learn the hard way.

Seaken64

[Incogneeto]

Ok so first of all, this is Hands Down the best forum, NOT!!!! not correct at all. Not with the kinds of comments that people make towards one another here.
This is not the best forum. This forum is just a place the some of the most amazing, selfLESS, smart and helpful people come together. (I had you going for a quick second didn't I) On a real note you guys absolutely rock! Again thank you for not saying "hey idiot, try reading and learning before you step in some stuff you cant get off your shoes, dumb dumb (i know you wanted to, admit it, lol) Great suggestions in the later comments. Linexer, your right I was paranoid about destroying those files. j2mcgreg, I just found out about windows 11 like an hour ago, I know super plugged in right, I sell solar, and have extremely slammed with learning this new trade, is 11 supposed to be pretty good? Tons of great info and comments from many, too many to quote.

So an update:
I spoke to my brother in law, a big geek (I say that with respect and admiration), on top of being a former DBA for IBM he red hat certified and does alot with programs and pc's, anyways he agreed with what most of you were saying. So the way I went, the super safe, over doing it way, I went and grabbed an external hard drive. I mounted the mx-linux and copied the important stuff off the old windows. I then downloaded the iso file for win 10 and used rufus to get that going on an usb. I went to install on my new usb hard drive only to find out that windows wont let you install to a usb device. I then opened up my small little mini pc and saw that it doesn't have a slot for a second hard drive on the board, ughhhhh. So in the end I figured, I copied all the important files so Im just gonna attempt a windows repair. Thats what im about to do now. Its ok, if im unable to repair it, Ill just wipe it and start fresh.

[JayM]

Just a comment, not directed at anyone in particular: When one installs Linux on their computer one becomes a de facto Unix System Administrator just like the people in the glass rooms with raised floors, noisy HVAC climate-control systems and racks full of blade servers. They are expected to know or learn about about things such as the Unix file and directory structure (Linux is pretty much a clone of Unix using all different source code as the original Unix was copyrighted and licensed similarly to Windows), file and directory ownership and permissions, basic shell commands and scripting, and perhaps most importantly, disaster recovery i.e. having a back-up strategy in place.

Actually all computer users including those using Windows, Mac systems or even DOS need to know about doing regular back-ups of the system and of important data and also ensure that said back-ups are able to be restored. Otherwise they're just one failed hard drive (or memory, motherboard, a coffee spill on a laptop's keyboard) away from losing their data forever. This is assuming that, in the case of failures or accidents that don't involve the drive itself, the newbie lacks the skills necessary to remove the drive and connect it to a different computer to recover their data. It's recommended that two back-ups be kept: one onsite such as to an external drive, and the other offsite like to "the cloud" for example. Then the data is still available should all of your computer equipment including the external drive be stolen or destroyed.

(I was going to say that Linux desktop distros aren't for those who are new to using computers, but then I thought "No, it might even be better if they cut their geek-teeth on a Linux system rather than, say, Windows, so they don't carry over any bad habits or have any preconceptions about how the operating system should work.")

[JayM]

Also, just FYI I decided to cut the cord with Redmond WA. several years ago and install Linux as my daily driver operating system (OS.) My wife and I shared a computer so I had to sit down and discuss it with her first and get her permission to get rid of Windows XP (that's how long ago it was.) At first she used to grumble and complain a lot, mostly because she didn't know how to do the things she wanted to do in Linux yet. So I installed VirtualBox, installed XP in a virtual machine along with her Microsoft Office and Photoshop, and showed her how to start the virtual Windows system. But I never saw her actually using it: after a few weeks' learning curve she only ever used Linux. I did have to install a few Linux apps for her such as an IRC client and an instant messenger and show her how to use them, but pretty soon the grumbling and complaining about Linux stopped. It helped that I was already familiar with Linux and was there to answer her questions and show her how to do things. (I have a background in onsite computer support among other things.)