Removing Trisquel in windows problem

23 replies [Last post]
masipay
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Joined: 10/24/2013

I had previously installed Trisquel on a partition (L:) in windows 8.1.
Far as I can remember,I had chosen the main windows partition that showed up as 'sda' as boot loader destination. Windows is on sda 4 and partition L: on sda 5.

I didn't get dual boot option after I installed and restart. I had to change the boot option to 'Lagacy Bios' from EUFI in order to boot Trisquel, otherwise with EUFI it would normally load Windows.

I decided to remove Trisquel which I did. I went ahead and deleted the Trisquel partition.

After the deletion of Trisquel and its partition, with EUFI option, it loads windows just fine, just as before. But with Lagacy Bios, it still tries to load Trisquel unsuccessfully.

I am a new with Linux and am wondering what has gone wrong.
I read about removing grub, but I never had dual boot option, I had to change boot option to Lagacy Bios as I mentioned.
I am not sure if the grub was installed in windows boot loader or in a separate partition.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

G4JC
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Joined: 03/11/2012

I do not have Windows 8 and many users here likely do not have it either, however you may find this of help:
----------------------------------------
You should be able to do this via the Trisquel Live CD.
Go to Trisquel >> Accessories >> Terminal

Install efibootmgr by typing:

sudo apt-get install efibootmgr

Then add to the kernel efi support:

sudo modprobe efivars

Then run sudo efibootmgr to check your boot entries. It will return something like this:

BootCurrent: 0004
Timeout: 2 seconds
BootOrder: 2001,0003,0005,0006,0000
Boot0000* Lenovo Recovery System
Boot0001* EFI Network 0 for IPv6 (B8-88-E3-84-F3-EF)
Boot0002* EFI Network 0 for IPv4 (B8-88-E3-84-F3-EF)
Boot0003* Windows Boot Manager
Boot0004* EFI USB Device (SanDisk)
Boot0005* Trisquel
Boot2001* EFI USB Device

Then delete the option you dont want. In this example, Trisquel is entry 5. the following could be called to delete entry 5 and remove it from the Boot Order.

sudo efibootmgr -b 5 -B
-------------------------------------------------
Source: http://askubuntu.com/questions/63610/how-do-i-remove-ubuntu-in-the-bios-boot-menu

masipay
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Joined: 10/24/2013

This is not good my friend, I will try though.
I am starting to believe what most people say, Linux sucks.

Distribution like these popular systems at least should come with clean install and clean uninstall/removal.

Making a mess in boot loader is pretty serious issue and I hope you Trisquel guys will address this issue.

Usually proprietary installations cause these kind of problems, like Norton Virus, giving users hard time to remove it.
Anyway, it has been a day wasted and perhaps few more to waste, since I probably have to re-install my windows and all the apps and programs.

Thanks Trisquel!

ahj
ahj

I am a member!

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Joined: 06/03/2012

Enjoy your Windows 8.1 PRISM Edition.

You are more than welcome to come back and join the free software community any time.

sebelius
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Joined: 08/22/2013

In
Trisquel GNU/Linux you can automate the process of reinstalling all
your programs pretty easily(compared to windows): apt-get install
program1 ...

Maybe you should educate yourself on what Free
Software
is before you actually permanently install a Freedom
respecting version of GNU/Linux like Trisquel. Most people unaware of
this concept, rather installs Ubuntu or the like.

axgb
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Joined: 09/22/2013

Masipay,
Firstly, Its not Linux, its GNU/Linux, or The GNU operating system.
Secondly, people who say "Linux sucks" are fools for many reasons. Firstly, they probabaly mean the GNU operating system, and secondly, it does not suck. Unless, of course, thye mean the Kernel Linux, and they want to use HURD kernel.These fools probabaly all have Android phones, which use the Linux kernel.

The mess in the boot loader is not the fault of the OS, it is your fault.

Having a clean uninstall option would be impossible, as it would not work the os delete itself, then expand the windows partition. Even if it was possible, it would be a waste of developers time because not many people want to get rid of it.
You might be able to do that with a Gparted LiveCd.

Enjoy Windows 8. It's c*** for 2 main reasons
- Horrible new interface. Not like GNU/Linux, where you can choose Desktop Enviroment
- Connected to PRISM, gets viruses, full of anti-features, has backdoors to remotely shut down, et cetera.

As Ahj said, you are welcome to come back, hopefully see you back here soon. Next time you install Trisquel, make sure you press the button "replace windows".

icarolongo
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Joined: 03/26/2011

Please, he is a new user. We can explain with calm the issues and try to resolve the problem.

Curse one non-free system is irrelevant.

akirashinigami

I am a member!

I am a translator!

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Joined: 02/25/2010

Let's not be so harsh with new users. I remember when I started using GNU/Linux, I switched back to Windows several times before I finally stuck with it.

I know that many of us, myself included, take pride in the operating system we use, so things like "Linux [sic] sucks" may seem like personal attacks. Even so, we should try to be kinder to our new users. Such a standoffish attitude doesn't really help anyone.

Fernando_Negro
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Joined: 06/17/2012

I have zero experience with EUFI, so, I can't help you...

But, surely... As always, there must other people on the Internet explaining how can one manage Windows and GNU/Linux partitions with UEFI. (Look for that information, using a search engine.) And, it seems like an easy problem to solve.

Trisquel is based on Ubuntu - which has an immense number of users. And, you can find a lot of responses for Trisquel problems if you search on the Internet for the same problem in the Ubuntu version that your Trisquel version is based on.

Trisquel, or GNU/Linux, in general, in this particular case - since, this is a generic GNU/Linux problem - is not as "simple" to use as Windows. So, you'll have to be more patient for any problems that may arise, and prepare yourself to spend a good amount of hours learning how to use it, before you can operate with it well.

If you're not willing to do that, then it's your choice... But, I think it's worth the time and patience invested, because of all the /real/ security, and other things, that you can only get with GNU/Linux.

I also had the same type of frustrations, at start, and would say the same type of things, that you're saying... But, having found the patience to solve the problems that would appear, I am now immensely glad that I did it... Since, there's nothing better - and, above all, more secure - than this OS... And, after some months using it, I, long ago, decided to never go back to Windows again.

muhammed
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Joined: 04/13/2013

I had the same challenges as masipay when I started using GNU-Linux. I feel the same as Fernando; it wasn't always easy but I'm glad that I kept trying.

Documentation is so much better today than it was even just eight years ago. Especially because Ubuntu has become so popular.

I did a quick search for your issue masipay; does this help? Well I guess it's too late this time, but if you give free software another try in the future, maybe keep these handy:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-safely-uninstall-ubuntu-in-windows-dual-boot-environment/

There seemed to be some video tutorials in the search results too btw.

axgb
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Joined: 09/22/2013

GNU/Linux, once installed on a computer, is fairly easy to use. Or I should about the desktop enviroment - whether that one is easy to use. For most desktop enviroments, one can just press a button, and Libreoffice/firefox/whatever just opens. Installation is also a lot easier than windows. Assuming compatibility with free software, installing drivers is automatic. One can also install a user-friendly software center, which there are many of - Ubuntu software center is very easy to use, when I was a beginner I used that, now I mostly use the command line.

The hardest thing for a beginner, in my opinion, is installing software that isn't in the distributions repository - I once spent 2 hours trying to install a .deb file, and even longer trying to compile something.

Andrew R.
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Joined: 09/27/2013

Here's what you need:

1. You need to disable UEFI whitelisting or enable legacy mode. I don't
know much about this step, and I suspect others here are in the same
position, as this is only specific to recent UEFI computers.

2. GRUB is best installed in the Master Boot Record.

3. If you want to remove Trisquel and revert to Windows-only, you will
need to boot from your Windows 8.1 disc to restore the MBR, or manually
restore it if you kept a copy. If you don't have a Windows 8.1 disc,
well, there is nothing you can do.

> Making a mess in boot loader is pretty serious issue and I hope you
> Trisquel guys will address this issue.

GNU/Linux distros like Debian, Ubuntu, Trisquel etc. all install GRUB in
the MBR, same as Windows. If you can't restore your MBR to use the
Windows bootloader, this is in fact a Microsoft issue, not a Trisquel
issue.

Andrew.

masipay
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Joined: 10/24/2013

I do appreciate for your response, but surprisingly none of you actually came up with solution on how to get rid of Grubs.

Part of the reason I tried Trisquel was because of Stallman and his principle, which I recently happened to watch on a video. I decided to remove Trisquel because WiFi was disconnected frequently(and now on windows as well after the Trisquel removal) and I didn't have time to look around for add ons and proprietary free softwares to go with your GNULinux.

Going back to Stallman, his principle, having the freedom to use software, applies just as much to Not using a software. If you add something to my MBR and it causes problems, you should provide with a way to clean it up otherwise your foundation and your work would look and sound hippocratic, don't you think so?

I have tried to install Linux or GNULinux many times over last 10 years in various windows OS, I had to deal with the same problem. And by the way I am no dummy, I have a degree in Computers, its just that I work mostly in Windows environment.

Linux has not been popular probably because of nerds like you who take pride in glory of computing in an environment other than Windows, a system developed for use for everyday people. And that is the point, 'Doing things the hard way, making it hard for ordinary Joe'

Putting aside all, so what is the solution? How to fix my MBR?

@Muhhamad, I have pretty much read and followed all that is there in google archive as suggested by others, only solution is to Reinstall Windows so far.
Thanks Trisquel and Say hello to Stallman next time you see him.

Andrew R.
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Joined: 09/27/2013

On 25/10/13 11:38, masikwha wrote:
> Putting aside all, so what is the solution? How to fix my MBR?

Installation of an OS will override the MBR, unless you tell it
otherwise. AFAIK the Trisquel installation asks you if you want to
install GRUB. You will need to override GRUB with the Windows 8.1 MBR if
you don't want to use GRUB.

Apparently you can create a Windows repair disc, which can be used to
recreate the Windows MBR. For example, I found this:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html

I should also add that at least I won't be able to help you past here,
as support for proprietary software is contrary to the goals of the free
software movement.

It's unfortunate that using a free distro caused you an inconvenience,
but I hope that doesn't turn you away from using free software.

> Part of the reason I tried Trisquel was because of Stallman and his
> principle, which I recently happened to watch on a video. I decided
> to remove Trisquel because WiFi was disconnected frequently(and now
> on windows as well after the Trisquel removal) and I didn't have time
> to look around for add ons and proprietary free softwares to go with
> your GNULinux.

Unfortunately the state of WiFi for GNU/Linux isn't so good. Some
drivers aren't so good, e.g. I previously used the (free) driver for an
Intel WiFi chip which frequently disconnected. However, the ThinkPenguin
USB WiFi adapters are a good example of WiFi hardware that is fully
compatible with free software and works well in GNU/Linux. Apparently it
also works in Windows. You should check it out:

https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/penguin-wireless-n-usb-adapter-gnu-linux-tpe-n150usb

Andrew.

lembas
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Joined: 05/13/2010

Go back to windoze dummy, you deserve each other. Say hello to Ballmer the next time you see him.

Andrew R.
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Joined: 09/27/2013

On 25/10/13 11:38, masikwha wrote:
> Going back to Stallman, his principle, having the freedom to use
> software, applies just as much to Not using a software. If you add
> something to my MBR and it causes problems, you should provide with a
> way to clean it up otherwise your foundation and your work would look
> and sound hippocratic, don't you think so?

No, not really. Unfortunately it is the "design" of the MBR that it
generally needs to load a second-stage bootloader stored elsewhere, i.e.
in another partition. An inconvenience or poor design doesn't make
GNU/Linux any less free.

In fact, it is Windows to blame here, as the Windows first stage
bootloader is non-free and so nobody except for Microsoft can help you
reinstall it.

Andrew.

Fernando_Negro
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Joined: 06/17/2012

Sounds like you're gonna suffer from a nervous breakdown, pretty soon (if you say that you seriously work with computers, and this is how you react to computer problems)...

One should always make backups of one's files, everytime one installs a new OS. (Be it in parallel with another OS, or if one is substituting just the root directory/partition...) So that one can reinstall things, and restart from the beginning, in case something goes wrong...

(It's a basic principle, followed by anyone who knows the minimum about computers...)

But, if you prefer to have backdoors in your computer, then it's your choice... (https://trisquel.info/en/forum/nsa-decryption-capabilities#comment-42162)

If that's the case... Say hi to Bill "Mr. Eugenics" Gates, for me.

axgb
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Joined: 09/22/2013

Tell me about your degree in computers. You have one, yet you are unable to do something as basic as installing gnu/linux. I have no computer degree, and I can use trisquel fine. I started using ubuntu in 2011, and earlier this year changed to using free software only.

If you have issues with WIFI disconnecting, either use an external one, or install the non-free driver, if there is one. I use a PCMCIA wireless card in my laptop. It really does not take long to download the non-free driver.

Clearly, if it is disconnecting on windows as well, its a problem with the wireless card, not the driver. Please do not blame your broken hardware on the linux kernel developers. Its not their fault.

Secondly, GNU/Linux is easy to use. If a beginner got a computer, it came with trisquel, he could just enter his wifi password and immedietly start using the internet. It will have the office programs installed - libreoffice, and whatever.

onpon4
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Joined: 05/30/2012

Quote from masipay:
> Linux has not been popular probably because of nerds like you who take pride
> in glory of computing in an environment other than Windows, a system developed
> for use for everyday people. And that is the point, 'Doing things the hard
> way, making it hard for ordinary Joe'

You probably never used Linux directly. Linux is just a kernel: the program that talks to your hardware. It's really not worth talking about Linux unless you're having a hardware compatibility problem.

I think it's silly to talk about the popularity of "Linux". Many people are stupidly fanatic about "Linux", but they often don't even know what Linux actually is; I once saw an image of "Linux distros" that included FreeBSD and PCBSD, neither of which have Linux in them. What people really think of, most of the time, when they say "Linux" is whatever Unix-like operating system they happen to like most; it's an illusion of unity between several unrelated interests.

Arch and its free variant, Parabola, is a system clearly meant for "geeks". You need to have a lot of patience, read the manuals, and be prepared for problems due to it being bleeding-edge and rolling-release. It would be stupid to recommend this system to average PC users.

But Trisquel is not like Arch. It's a free variant of Ubuntu, which is absolutely meant for beginners. To be perfectly frank, I think Ubuntu is a lot easier than Windows 7 (can't comment on Windows 8, since I've never used that); if you put the two together and ask someone who has never seen either in their life, I would bet everything that this person would have a much easier time with Ubuntu than Windows. I don't think this translates directly to Trisquel thanks to Trisquel using GNOME Fallback by default rather than Unity (I do hope they go with GNOME Shell by default for the next release, which I think is much better), but it's still not something that I would describe as hard to use.

Your problem you've described indeed has nothing to do with how easy Trisquel is to use. It came about because you handled getting rid of Trisquel badly. What you should have done is changed GRUB's settings to select Windows by default and have a short timer for automatically booting the default selection, unless you wanted to format your hard drive and reinstall Windows.

kpengboy
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Joined: 09/08/2013

I have a similar setup (besides the fact that I'm still using Trisquel). (Yes, what now...)

I usually boot into Trisquel in legacy mode, and when I need to use Windows I switch into UEFI mode. I've tried to get Trisquel to boot in UEFI mode by default, but most UEFI implementations these days are crap and only useful for booting Windows.

Are you sure booting into Windows in legacy mode is supposed to work? Before I installed Trisquel, my MBR boot code was all zeros. I don't think booting into Windows in legacy mode is supposed to work.

I'm sorry to see you go. Hopefully you will remain committed to free software.

ADFENO
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Joined: 12/31/2012

I understand clearly how difficult it can be for a user to start using GNU+Linux Trisquel or similar distributions accepted by the FSF.

We are actually doing our best to support such users, we are even working on a user guide.

The issue here arose not because of the way you do things, nor because of the way we do things, but because of the way Microsoft does things.

If you don't want to read about some of my history, and some of the GNU+Linux terminologies, go the the last paragraph.

I use GNU+Linux since 2007, it was just on 2011 that I begun using the distributions accepted by the FSF, and so I heard about the implications of having UEFI enabled.

To tell you the truth, I'm not a technology savvy, and I have also faced problems earlier (who didn't?). I prefer to have a stable and productive operating system (in which GNU+Linux Trisquel fits best for me), than changing repository sources (places where the installed package managers can look for packages), bootloader configurations (GRUB is a bootloader, as well as the other one from Microsoft, if I'm not mistaken), and driver options (we call the drivers as modules in the GNU+Linux terminologies, just be careful when asking for [Vendor name here] modules, which is different from asking for modules for [Vendor name here]).

Since 2011, I discovered that the BIOS used by the motherboard of my computer has the ability to use UEFI, so I disabled it, because I don't like to use UEFI nor to use Microsoft Windows operating systems.

I should note that, even if we do help you with such problems, we won't probably go further because it sometimes involves the use of non-free software.

Best regards, ADFENO.
Have a nice day.

axgb
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Joined: 09/22/2013

ADFENO, can I see the user guide, I would be very happy to contribute, write a small section.

ssdclickofdeath
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Joined: 05/18/2013
antiesnob
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Joined: 08/22/2013

Windows 7 hast 2 partition, one is hidden made for booting and having the privative license control.
Windows 8 has more. As I see, you installed the GNU/linux bootloader in the wrong partition.