Help Novice Here How do I log back into Windows

[Incogneeto]

Ok, so I have (or perhaps I should say had) windows 10 and I thought it would be cool to install a linux distribution and have a dual boot pc. Well I got my MX-linux installed, I installed the grub or something link that to handle the booting in process. Anyways, I finally figured out how to restart the pc because I wanted to log back into the windows OS. Well, I dont know how to get back. I thought I was going to just have the a screen pop up that would let me choose which OS I wanted to log into. Well thats not the case, how do i get back???

[j2mcgreg]

What steps did you take to prepare your computer for the install?

[LionelZaylan]

Open a terminal in your installed MX linux (from the menu or by Ctrl+Alt+T ) and try running :

Code: Select all

 sudo update-grub 

(Type Enter and then Enter your password . Note: your password won't appear even as ***** , for security reasons )

Also , pasting Quick System Info (from the menu) in this forum may be helpful.

[Incogneeto]

whoa, ok, i have never used linux, gonna take me a second to answer these questions.

The method I used to install was live usb. I made 3 partitions on an external hard drive that I have (home, swap and root). So I believe that my C drive in windows is safe.

-Computer-
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4590S CPU @ 3.00GHz
Memory : 8074MB (2027MB used)
Machine Type : Desktop
Operating System : Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
User Name : demo (Unknown)
Date/Time : Fri 25 Jun 2021 01:43:51 AM MST
-Display-
Resolution : 1920x1080 pixels
OpenGL Renderer : Mesa DRI Intel(R) Haswell Desktop
X11 Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
-Audio Devices-
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA Intel HDMI
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
Audio Adapter : USB-Audio - HD Pro Webcam C920
-Input Devices-
Chicony HP Business Slim Keyboard
Chicony HP Business Slim Keyboard Consumer Control
Chicony HP Business Slim Keyboard System Control
Chicony HP Business Slim Keyboard
2.4G Mouse
2.4G Mouse Mouse
Power Button
Power Button
HP WMI hotkeys
HDA Intel PCH Mic
HDA Intel PCH Line
HDA Intel PCH Line Out
HDA Intel PCH Front Headphone
HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm:3
HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm:7
HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm:8
HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm:9
HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm:10
HD Pro Webcam C920
ACPI Virtual Keyboard Device
-Printers (CUPS)-
Canon_TS9100_series

[Eadwine Rose]

Please run quick system info, click paste in a reply. Do not edit the output.

[LionelZaylan]

Welcome to Linux, dear @Incogneeto

whoa, ok, i have never used linux, gonna take me a second to answer these questions.

I'll explain in simpler terms.
Sorry for my complicated answer.
You can ask any of us for further details/help/clarification on this forum.

- I assume your newly installed MX linux is fine (not the usb one, but the one on your external hard drive).
- I also assume you don't have any other linux installed on any other hard drive.
Then, go to that very MX linux (not the usb one, but the one on your external hard drive).
1) Go to the menu (probably in the bottom left of your desktop, else use the keyboard key with Windows logo)
2) Now, search for MX Boot repair and open it. (Type your password when asked)
3) Select "Repair GRUB configuration file" -> Apply -> Apply (with the default GRUB location)
4) Wait for it to complete and then close it
5) Now, reboot your system and see if you are presented with a screen asking which OS to boot (Linux, Windows or other advanced options)

To paste the Quick System Info on this forum:
1) Go to the menu (probably in the bottom left of your desktop, else use the keyboard key with Windows logo)
2) Now, search for Quick System Info and open it. A screen with a lot of text appears.
3) Press OK, and just paste it on this forum.

If all that doesn't work, boot to your newly installed MX linux (not the usb one, but the one on your external hard drive) and:
1) Press Ctrl+Alt+T when you reach your desktop (or open the terminal from the Menu). A black screen with your username appears. ( something like windows CMD )
2) Then, type

Code: Select all

 sudo update-grub 

in that. Then, press Enter on your keyboard.
3) Now, enter your password if asked. Your password won't appear even like ******* (due to security reasons)
4) Now, wait for it to complete (you will be presented with the next prompt with your username on completion).
5) If you can, please copy-paste the contents of it in this forum.
6) Now, reboot your system and see if you are presented with a screen asking which OS to boot (Linux, Windows or other advanced options)

[Incogneeto]

thank you im about to try that

[Incogneeto]

ok, heres 1 thing I think maybe you should know before I try that. So if I take my live USB out, I can not log into anything. The window gets stuck at a command prompt sort of window, you know, when its booting up, ......grub...? thats where it locks up.

If I put the live USB in then I can get somewhere. There will be to MX installs to pick from with different dates, one with a march date and one with a june

another thing, in one of those options, i can use the windows key and it actaully does something and in the other one i cant, dont know if any of these things matter

[LionelZaylan]

ok, heres 1 thing I think maybe you should know before I try that. So if I take my live USB out, I can not log into anything. The window gets stuck at a command prompt sort of window, you know, when its booting up, ......grub...? thats where it locks up.

Yes, that helps a lot.

What I told won't work then ( I had assumed your installed MX linux was fine )

[Incogneeto]

oh no is that bad, its bad isnt it... im never gonna see that windows installation again am i