Solved Need help for installing Windows 11 on a Ubuntu laptop for dual boot

vett93 · Jul 19, 2024

I bought a Windows 11 laptop and installed Ubuntu over it. It became an Ubuntu laptop. Now I want to install Windows 11 to make this laptop a dual boot laptop.

So I used GParted to partition the SSD on the laptop to create two volumes under Ubuntu. Then I created a USB boot drive with Windows 11 iso image using another PC. I boot up my laptop with it. It shows the Windows installation screen fine. But it cannot find any of the two volumes.

Any suggestions on how I can make it a dual boot laptop? Thanks.

bfunke · Jul 19, 2024

I would first do a clean install of windows 11 after you've backed up your data. Install win 11 as if it were the only OS you will use. Be sure bitlocker is disabled. Once Windows is working create your Ubuntu installation media on a bootable flash drive with Rufus or whatever.
Now in Windows open Disk Management and shrink the windows C: partition by whatever amount you want to dedicate to Ubuntu. 200GB min recommended. Now boot your laptop into UEFI settings (Shift+Restart, Troubleshoot, UEFI Bios Settings, Restart). Enable USB Boot and change the boot order to make the usb flash drive as primary. I would recommend disabling secure boot also although IIRC Ubuntu now supports it. Reboot into Ubuntu install media live session. Follow the installation prompts. Be sure to select interactive installation. Select install recommended drivers. Now be sure to select "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager" when prompted. This option creates a Linux partition on the free space previously allocated. Create your Ubuntu user account. After selecting time zone click on install. Be patient while Ubuntu installs. Once done, click restart. Upon restart remove USB flash drive and press enter. By default it will boot into Windows Grub boot manager where you can select Win 11 or Ubuntu. Select Ubuntu and open the terminal. Type sudo nano etc/default/grub and change the default Grub timeout to 30 sec. Save the changes with cntrl+O and exit with cntrl+X. Now type sudo update-grub to update the Grub configuration. Now type sudo reboot now to reboot. You will see Grub boot manager now gives you 30 sec to decide which OS to boot. If you decide you no longer want Ubuntu type diskmgmt.msc from a cmd prompt in Win 11 to open diskmgnt and right click on the Ubuntu partition and choose delete volume. Then you can extend your windows C: volume to take up the unallocated space. If you remove Ubuntu this way you'll have to use diskpart to remove the Ubuntu directory from the boot partition. Good luck

vett93 · Jul 19, 2024

bfunke said:
I would first do a clean install of windows 11 after you've backed up your data. Install win 11 as if it were the only OS you will use. Be sure bitlocker is disabled. Once Windows is working create your Ubuntu installation media on a bootable flash drive with Rufus or whatever.
Now in Windows open Disk Management and shrink the windows C: partition by whatever amount you want to dedicate to Ubuntu. 200GB min recommended. Now boot your laptop into UEFI settings (Shift+Restart, Troubleshoot, UEFI Bios Settings, Restart). Enable USB Boot and change the boot order to make the usb flash drive as primary. I would recommend disabling secure boot also although IIRC Ubuntu now supports it. Reboot into Ubuntu install media live session. Follow the installation prompts. Be sure to select interactive installation. Select install recommended drivers. Now be sure to select "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager" when prompted. This option creates a Linux partition on the free space previously allocated. Create your Ubuntu user account. After selecting time zone click on install. Be patient while Ubuntu installs. Once done, click restart. Upon restart remove USB flash drive and press enter. By default it will boot into Windows Grub boot manager where you can select Win 11 or Ubuntu. Select Ubuntu and open the terminal. Type sudo nano etc/default/grub and change the default Grub timeout to 30 sec. Save the changes with cntrl+O and exit with cntrl+X. Now type sudo update-grub to update the Grub configuration. Now type sudo reboot now to reboot. You will see Grub boot manager now gives you 30 sec to decide which OS to boot. If you decide you no longer want Ubuntu type diskmgmt.msc from a cmd prompt in Win 11 to open diskmgnt and right click on the Ubuntu partition and choose delete volume. Then you can extend your windows C: volume to take up the unallocated space. If you remove Ubuntu this way you'll have to use diskpart to remove the Ubuntu directory from the boot partition. Good luck

How do I do a clean install of Windows 11 if it cannot detect a disk for installation?

vett93 · Jul 20, 2024

This is what I get when I try to install Windows 11 using a bootable USB drive.

glasskuter · Jul 20, 2024

First of all Windows has to be installed on unallocated space.
No drives detected Step 10 here Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

jimbo45 · Jul 20, 2024

Hi there

@vett93

a) Use a partition manager / linux live distro / macrium /windows install disk etc in command mode to create and partition your disks -- I assume it's a UEFI machine so create an EFI partition, space for Windows and install your Windows system FIRST.

b) Now install your Linux system - allocate the relevant partitions and file system --if using a graphical installer it should guide you through the process.

c) note that some versions of Linux use systemd for the bootloader rather than grub but still install the bootloader to the efi partition. The Linux Os Prober will look for other OS'es on the drive.

d) when booting you should see the Windows OS blue boot menu -- scroll to external device and you should see GRUB on the boot menu. If you boot Linux first you should aslo see windows in the linux boot menu.

Cheers
jimbo

spapakons · Jul 20, 2024

Windows Setup cannot find the disk because you probably need drivers for the storage controller. If the Ubuntu laptop is your 2nd system, ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, then you need drivers for Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST), see here: ROG Zephyrus M16 (2022) | Gaming Laptops｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global
Download the driver, extract it to a folder and copy it in the Windows Setup USB. On the empty disk screen click Load driver and browse to the folder. After Setup loads the Intel driver you should see your disk to begin. I am not sure if you can just select the unallocated space to proceed. To be on the safe side I would create a single partition FAT32 from Ubuntu (Linux cannot create an NTFS partition), so Windows Setup can see it. Click on it, Format to NTFS and then proceed to install Windows 11. Chances are that Setup will replace Grub bootloader so you will be able to boot into Windows, but not Linux. You can use EasyBCD utility on Windows to add the Ubuntu boot entry, or you can boot with the Ubuntu USB to reinstall Grub.

Megahertz · Jul 20, 2024

I wold say you need to load the Intel RST drivers.
On BIOS, is SATA mode set as RAID or AHCI?

Once you load the the IRST driver you will "see" the drive and you will be able install Win 11 on an unallocated space.

Intel used to deliver the driver files (*.inf, *.cat, *.sys etc). Now Intel delivers a *.exe installation file so you must extract the drivers first from the SetupRST.exe

The Intel RST drivers must be as *.ini, *.sys, *.cat etc.

Download SetupRST.exe

Extracting-drivers-from-the-RST-installer]Invalid Parameters Specified - Intel Community

Extract driver files from SetupRST.exe:

- Open terminal in the directory with SetupRST.exe by right-clicking the directory

and selecting "Open in Terminal" or "Open PowerShell here"

- Enter the following command:

./SetupRST.exe -extractdrivers SetupRST_extracted

Put the IRST drivers on a folder on the Win 10 USB installation drive.
Boot from the Win 11 installation drive. Once you get to the point to choose where to install you browse to the driver folder to load the driver. Once you loaded the driver, you will be able to see the drive.

spapakons · Jul 20, 2024

You can also use a utility such as WinRAR to open the .exe file and extract the contents.

Berton · Jul 20, 2024

My experience? The Bootable Linux LiveUSB formats a drive as ext4 which Windows can't work with. I'd boot back into that Linux USB drive [or LiveDVD if used] and run the included GPARTED to delete all the partitions on the internal drive then reboot to the Windows install medial which can be obtained at Media Creation Tool provided by Microsoft.

bfunke · Jul 20, 2024

From that window setup screen you are showing you should be able to click on install driver to load the IRST driver if you have on the flash drive

Assuming this is your system two - the driver is here https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...30721.exe?model=ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) GU604

Hazel123 · Jul 20, 2024

You need to install Windows first and Ubuntu after. When you install ubuntu, it'll automatically install in the free space and give you an opportunity to partition as well if you want.

If the drive now isnt being recognised, try using parted magic to delete the mbr then gparted to reset to msdos and partition the drive as ntfs. Then Windows should install.

Done it lots of times - very quick and you'll be installing Windows 11 in no time. But you need a copy of parted magic on a usb stick (there may be other ways to do it also).

Megahertz · Jul 20, 2024

spapakons said:
You can also use a utility such as WinRAR to open the .exe file and extract the contents.

I don't think you can. I once have tried but wasn't successful

XxXxX · Jul 20, 2024

boot from the Ubuntu USB and in the live session use 'disks'

delete all the partitions and then set the drive how you want
ie. two partitions of whatever size .. format both FAT32 .. reason for FAT 32 windows can then see the drive.

exit Ubuntu live and shut the system down .. insert Windows USB and then install Windows to one of the partitions.
the first partition is normally best for Windows .. let Windows install then update etc ..

####

after you have finished in Windows shut the system down .. you may need to disable 'fast boot'
insert the Ubuntu USB and install Ubuntu to the other partition .. grub will pick up the Windows install and add it to the boot manager.

when you next boot you will get the Grub boot menu with both systems visible.

hope this helps and best of luck. Steve ..

vett93 · Jul 20, 2024

Thanks all who have chimed in to help. My problem has been fixed. In my case, it turns out that I need to disable Intel VMD in the BIOS. After that, Windows installer can see the disks. Then problems solved.

Thanks again.

spapakons · Jul 20, 2024

I think the whole point is to keep the current Ubuntu installation, not delete it and start from scratch. To do that shrink the Ubuntu partition (I don't know the Linux term) and create a FAT32 partition. Then boot in Windows Setup, load the Intel driver to see the disk and format the FAT32 partition to NTFS and proceed with the installation. Finally use EasyBCD to add the Ubuntu entry in Windows bootloader or boot with Ubuntu USB to reinstall the Grub bootloader. See my previous post.

bfunke · Jul 20, 2024

VMD is the same thing as RAID and needs the IRST drivers. By disabling you are using AHCI and the OS can see the drives without added drivers.

vett93 · Jul 20, 2024

bfunke said:
VMD is the same thing as RAID and needs the IRST drivers. By disabling you are using AHCI and the OS can see the drives without added drivers.

If I don't have RAID disks, do I need VMD? In other words, why shouldn't I just use AHCI? Thanks.

bfunke · Jul 20, 2024

Most of the big companies like ASUS, DELL and HP are shipping with RAID selected by default. For a home computer you can turn it off with no adverse effect.

Solved Need help for installing Windows 11 on a Ubuntu laptop for dual boot

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Wish to be flying

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Ret. ATC

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Wish to be flying

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Similar threads