How to remove "Ubuntu" from Boot Menu after deleting Ubuntu partition in Windows 10 (Dual Boot)

Question

I have recently installed dual-boot with Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. After messing around with Ubuntu, I decided it was time for a clean re-install.

I booted back into Windows 10 and deleted the Ubuntu partition (two of them) and they were converted back to free space.

Upon reboot, I got into a black screen with Grub > command line. (Note: not Grub rescue). Not knowing what to do, I did a force shut down.

Next, I attempted to boot my machine again, this time pressing F2 to get into BIOS. I was lucky that I could change the Boot Order to get Windows Boot Manager back on top of the list, instead of Ubuntu. I successfully booted back to Windows 10.

Now, this is where my issue differs from the rest (I did some research on similar topics before posting). Now, I can boot back into Windows 10.

My goal is to remove Ubuntu and reinstall it for a clean-slate. I have already deleted the Ubuntu partitions. However, now the Ubuntu selection remains lingering in my Boot Menu. Hence, how can I remove it?

Solution 1

I've successfully executed this solution below to my problem:

1. In BIOS, change Boot Sequence to allow booting from USB (containing Ubuntu)

2. In GRUB, select Try Ubuntu without installing

3. Once in Ubuntu, press Ctrl+Alt+T to bring up Terminal

4. Type sudo efibootmgr to list all the entries in Boot Menu. If the command doesn't exist, then do sudo apt install efibootmgr.

5. Find Ubuntu in the menu and note down its boot number e.g. 1 in Boot0001

6. Type sudo efibootmgr -b <boot number> -B to delete the entry from Boot Menu. E.g. sudo efibootmgr -b 1 -B

-b: modify boot number -B: delete boot number

There after, all I did was to switch Windows Boot Manager back up to the top of the Boot Menu > go back to Windows 10 > Create and format hard disk partitions and extended my Windows C:\ Drive partition to merge with the free space where it came from my deleted Ubuntu drive.

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Reference (with images): How to remove Ubuntu from Dual Boot

Solution 2

Open the Command Prompt (Admin) ( shown in the options image above ). Follow these commands-> Note the line after ‘#’ is just to explain the command

> diskpart  
> list disk       # select the primary disk
> select disk 0   # disk 0 is 
> list partition   # a list of partition is opened

Note-> Check which is the system partition (example partition 1 is system partition)

> select partition 1  #select the system partition
> assign letter=x     #disk is now mounted in your explorer verify with (windows+E)
>exit    #exit from diskpart
>x:      # this would select this newly mounted disk x:
> dir  # displays content
> cd efi
>dir   #displays content

Note-> You can now see the OS check your Linux OS

>rd ubuntu /S    #if Linux os is Ubuntu
>y               #to confirm delete

You may check out my article UNINSTALL UBUNTU COMPLETELY

Comments

[EODCraft Staff]

Here is a easy program to do that. easyuefi.com/index-us.html

[Keith OYS]

@EODCraftStaff Am I right to assume that I should use this program to just make a deletion of the Ubuntu boot option? May I also ask if there's any thing else I need to do before I reinstall back Ubuntu on the free space partition for a clean installation (because I realised deleting the partition right away is too abrupt, nothing like the steps shown here: everydaylinuxuser.com/2016/04/…)

[EODCraft Staff]

You can use it to edit and prioritize your boot options also but I have found under the latest update of Windows 10, Every Windows update rewrites the boot manager file and I must edit the boot order each time in the CMOS. If your still on the Version prior to April 11th, 2017 it works marvelous. I have a post on MS Forum about this but it remains unanswered, Sry.

[Keith OYS]

Thanks @EODCraftStaff. :-) I've solved my problem using USB-Booted-Ubuntu Terminal.

[K7AAY]

I do not believe it to be a duplicate, for the post cited immediately above does not explicitly show how to edit GRUB to remove the remnant listing for the Ubuntu which was removed.

[Melebius]

@DavidFoerster I agree with K7AAY. The linked page mostly speaks about MBR but this seems to be a UEFI case with an Ubuntu residue in the EFI partition. @ Keith OYS Can you check you are using UEFI?

[Keith OYS]

@DavidFoerster This is indeed a different issue, like K7AAY explained.

[Keith OYS]

@Melebius Yes, I am using UEFI as listed under BIOS Mode in MSINFO32

[Shaurya Uppal]

Sorry just saw you solved the problem but this answer would help other so wrote it.

[Rahul]

C:\Users\Rahul kumar>x: Access is denied.

[Rahul]

It is showing when i type x:

[el3ati2]

This was extremely helpful since I didn't have my Ubuntu flash drive on hand.