I dual boot with Windows 11 and I just did a clean install upgrading F40 to F41. I made an error and the GRUB menu does not now include Windows. The answer from last year was that the questioner should not have re-created the /boot/efi partition (I did this also). The solution offered was to re-install F41 using the auto install function.
I can do that. However:
By creating a new /boot/efi partition, did I destroy the original that Windows used and negate the ability to re-create a new functional one?
My F40 install had / and /home on separate ext4 partitions which is what I like. However, I’m not opposed to a single partition and/or btrfs if it is necessary. With that in mind, my install process in Annacoda was to choose “custom” install and “common” partitioning and then formatted only / (in order to preserve /home) and /boot/efi (should not have formatted /boot/efi I know now).
So, should I re-install following the same process again without formatting /boot/efi or should I use “KDE Partition Mgr” and delete the “bad” /boot/efi first?
One last question: I did run this with no effect:
grub2-mkconfig -o /etc/grub2-efi.cfg
I hope that hasn’t further complicated anything.
Thanks
If you removed the original efi partition that windows created and created an entirely new one, then the only way to recover that I know of is to perform a recovery process that involves at least a repair and possibly new install of windows. The removed partition would have contained files necessary to boot windows.
Once windows has been recovered you could simply follow the instructions in that linked topic and do a new clean install of fedora 41. Or spend a bit more time and learn more about recovery of booting with fedora.
Unfortunately the OP on that thread did not come back and tell us the results so there was no further discussion.
Ordinarily, Anaconda does not touch anything but Fedora stuff, right? All I did during installation was select the /boot/efi partition offered and set it for formatting. That should not have affected the windows boot partition should it? I have not yet tried to “fix” Windows with it’s install usb drive.
Was this an efi partition that already existed on the drive where windows was booted?
If so then the formatting wiped out the files needed by windows for booting.
Had you used the same partition but not formatted it the windows boot files would still be in place and bootable.
Not sure what I did, but I will assume the worst and likely reinstall everything. I’ll first run the diagnostics and repair on my windows install stick and see if that will fix it. I just remember setting efi the first time I installed F38 and I assumed I needed to do it again with a fresh install.
Thanks for the help.
If you have windows 11 it will already be using uefi.
When installing, if you first provide adequate space by shrinking the windows file system/partition from within windows, then perform the automatic install, the formatting, partitioning, sizes, etc. are automatically done for you. Since it is on the same disk as an already existing efi partition it does not format that partition, but uses it shared.
Suggestions to follow when initially installing windows when you also want to install Fedora:
Install windows using a GPT UEFI system partition restricting disk allocation to between 20 and 40 GB. Verify correct operation of the windows installation.
Using a single system partition for multi-booting is a DISASTER looking for a venue. DON’T.
Installing Linux using unlabeled partitions makes it all to easy to use the wrong one.
Create and LABEL a second UEFI system partition with a size of about 90 MB in the remaining disk space. Create and LABEL a partition where Fedora will be installed.
Install Fedora choosing “custom” and “standard partition” . Verify correct operation of the Fedora installation.
Depending upon your BIOS, Fedora may become the default boot target. In this case a menu of bootable OS’s will be displayed with Fedora at the top and windows at or near the bottom.
Scroll away from Fedora to select windows to boot this time. If you don’t scroll away Fedora will boot.
If this does not happen, use the boot selection menu associated with your BIOS and choose the OS to boot.
This is not a good suggestion. Fedora only uses about 600MB as an efi partition and 1GB as a /boot partition. Using 90GB as an efi partition wastes at least 89GB of space.
Fedora uses the UUID for the file systems to always select the proper partitions. While labeling is not a bad idea it certainly is not required.
I’ve been using 90 MB for several years and currently Fedora 40 is consuming LESS than
50 MB in my GPT UEFI system partitions. I use one unique partition for each OS and that way
what happens in Vegas STAYS in Vegas.
Thanks for all of the comments. i ended up re-installing both Windows and F41; partly to solve the original problem but also because I wanted to re-partition and use my ssd more completely and efficiency. All is working well now.
