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I have a Sony VAIO S series with Windows 8 preinstalled, and I installed Ubuntu 12.10 on a new partition. When the PC boots Grub is display, and I can choose between Windows 8 (didn't worked at the beginning, had to change Grub settings) and Ubuntu 12.10. When I select Ubuntu 12.10 everything is OK, but when I use Windows 8, and I restart Grub isn't displayed anymore (Windows 8 boots immediatly).

I booted a Ubuntu 12.10 LiveUSB, used efibootmgr, and found out that Windows 8 (each time it boots) changes EFI default bootloader from Grub to Windows Boot Manager.

How do I change this in Windows 8? I read something about bcdedit, but it does not work orI don't know how to use it...

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I think you're on a good way solving this yourself. Just keep digging [; –  Melon Jan 3 '13 at 11:11
Yep I just need one little thing then I'll write a tutorial how to do it. Microsoft sucks why do they have to change the default boot manager? In my opinion it's to prevent people from using anything else then Microsoft products. –  Kouros Jan 4 '13 at 5:21
Naaah, I think that they just don't care that's. Anyway, hope to see your tutorial soon. –  Melon Jan 4 '13 at 9:57
I just asked Microsoft's customer service about this, and they directed me to their forums. On the forums a fella told me the windows puts itself on the first place. Period. If I don't like it, just create a batch file in windows that runs at every startup end bcdedt-s the windows uefi config to boot grub first next time. Nice. –  netom Jan 7 '13 at 9:30
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4 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

I can make no promises, but try this from a Windows Command Prompt window launched with Administrator privileges:


Note that {bootmgr} should be typed exactly; that's not a variable. If that doesn't work, you could try this in Linux:

  1. Back up the entire contents of /boot/efi (your EFI System Partition, or ESP).
  2. Type sudo mv /boot/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi /boot/efi/EFI/Microsoft.
  4. Create a new /etc/grub.d/40_custom file entry that refers to EFI/Microsoft/bootmgfw.efi. Model it after the existing entry in /boot/grub/grub.cfg that refers to EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi; just remove Boot from the boot path and give it a new name.
  5. Type sudo update-grub to install the new GRUB entry.

When you reboot, GRUB should come up. The trouble is that if/when Windows decides to re-install its boot loader, the system will start booting straight to Windows again.

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Sorry bcdedit /set {bootmgr} \\EFI\\ubuntu\\grubx64 does not work. I tried almost everything in Windows 8. –  Kouros Jan 4 '13 at 10:55
That should be bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi (with single backslashes), not bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \\EFI\\ubuntu\\grubx64.efi (with double backslashes). I'm not really sure if it makes any difference, but it's conceivable that it would, so it's best to try with the single backslashes. –  Rod Smith Jan 4 '13 at 15:31
Nop doesn't work either :( –  Kouros Jan 7 '13 at 20:03
PS C:\Windows\system32> bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi The set command specified is not valid. Run "bcdedit /?" for command line assistance. The parameter is incorrect. –  Kouros Jan 7 '13 at 20:29
Sorry I used Power Shell, works only on cmd.exe –  Kouros Jan 7 '13 at 20:32
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  1. run Boot-Repair's Recommended Repair from liveCD, then reboot the pc.
  2. if still not good, run Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> untick "Backup and rename EFI files" --> tick "Restore EFI backups" --> Apply
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Nop problems come from Windows 8 –  Kouros Jan 7 '13 at 20:05
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I have only a part of an answer: a working solution that is almost ok until I find out how to fix it permanently.

Had the same problem: thinkpad edge shipped with windows 8; installed ubuntu as dual boot and mostly forgot about windows until 8.1 came out and I thought I'd give it a try before deleting windows for good. So after installing 8.1, grub doesn't appear any more on startup BUT when I press F12 then a different menu appears which allows me to boot ubuntu. That's how I start my computer now: but every second time I forget to press F12 and it still starts Windows (which I almost never want).

So pressing F12 helps for a while (not sure if this works in your case but it may be worth a try). I know there are instructions about how to restore grub but I won't do anything before I'm completely sure.

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Somehow Windows 8.1 is Completely Blocking Ubuntu is a duplicate of this question. I don't think it is but I can only comment here. I experienced the same symptoms as Windows 8.1 is Completely Blocking Ubuntu.

In my case the solution was to press F2 during bootup and change the order of booting so that ubuntu was top of the list. For some reason after I upgraded my dualboot (Win/ubuntu) laptop from Win 8 to Win 8.1 'windows' appeared at the top of the boot list ahead of ubuntu, DVD, USB, etc and my laptop booted straight into Windows 8.1 without giving me any choice.

Pressing F2 during bootup and making ubuntu top the list solved my problem and made ubuntu reachable again (along with Windows 8.1) after I upgraded to Windows 8.1 from the Microsoft store.

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