How to Repair Windows Bootloader from Linux: 3 Simple Methods

If you’ve installed Linux on a dual-boot system and now can’t boot into Windows, don’t panic. You can quickly fix the Windows bootloader from Linux if it doesn’t work due to Windows updates or other issues. Here are three simple methods to repair the Windows bootloader from Linux:

1. Use the Boot Repair utility on Ubuntu

Boot Repair is a handy utility that comes with Ubuntu and can help you repair the Windows bootloader from Linux. Here’s how to use it:

1. Download the latest version of the Ubuntu live distro.
2. Mount it to your USB drive using a tool like Universal USB Installer.
3. Plug in the USB drive and boot from it.
4. Select “Try Ubuntu without installing” (if this fails, open BIOS/UEFI settings, disable Secure Boot, and try again).
5. Once Ubuntu boots, press Ctrl Alt T to open the Terminal.
6. In the command line, run the following commands (press Enter after each):

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair sudo apt update sudo apt install boot-repair 

7. Launch the Boot Repair application from the Application menu.
8. Choose “Recommended repair” and wait for the process to complete.

2. Use Terminal

If you prefer using the Terminal, you can use a batch of commands to repair the Windows bootloader from Linux:

1. Boot again with the bootable USB drive.
2. Open Terminal.
3. In the command line, type the following commands (press Enter after each):

    sudo apt-get install extlinux sudo dd if=/usr/lib/extlinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda sudo extlinux -i /boot/extlinux 

4. Replace “sda” with the Windows 10 system drive letter.
5. Reboot, and Windows should boot without any issues.

3. Use LILO

Another option is to use LILO (Linux Loader) to fix the Windows bootloader from Linux:

1. Boot again with the bootable USB drive and open Terminal.
2. In the command line, type the following commands (press Enter after each):

    sudo apt-get install lilo sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbr 

3. Reboot, and the Windows bootloader should be fixed.

If you’re still having trouble after trying these methods, consider using a third-party tool to repair your PC and keep it healthy.