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I recently installed Xubuntu in a dual-boot environment with Windows 8.1. Following this guide I was able to use the Windows 8 bootloader instead of GRUB to boot into Xubuntu.

However, recently I converted my Xubuntu install to Ubuntu using this guide. This worked and I was able to use the Ubuntu environment instead of Xubuntu. But this meant a problem. Although the installation was now a Ubuntu one, the Windows bootloader still listed it as Xubuntu. Thinking this would be an easy fix, I loaded up EasyBCD and changed the name of the entry to Ubuntu like so:

http://i.imgur.com/T4Bxu77.png

And that's when the problem started.

Now, when I boot up my computer, instead of the snazzy Windows 8 bootloader, I get the old textual Windows 7 style bootloader. The entries are there and it works, however I would much rather use the Windows 8 bootloader. However, I cannot get it to come back. I've tried:

  • Rewriting the bootloader in EasyBCD (Multiple times)
  • Removing the Ubuntu entry and then adding it again
  • Removing the Ubuntu entry and rebooting (did nothing at all, gave me the same menu)
  • Changing bootmenupolicy from standard to legacy and back again.

How can I get the Windows 8 bootloader back (Preferably with EasyBCD and not a repair disc)? I should mention that my computer does not support UEFI, so any complications that might arise from an EFI BIOS are not a problem. Everything is legacy.

EDIT:

As requested, here is the results of bcdedit /enum. I should note that my Windows installation is on the F: Drive.

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {bootmgr}
device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-GB
inherit                 {globalsettings}
integrityservices       Enable
default                 {current}
resumeobject            {0ac2e94d-9111-11e4-a30b-aa4ab5087796}
displayorder            {current}
                        {15842726-9264-11e4-8259-74de2b71de90}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 300
displaybootmenu         Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {current}
device                  partition=F:
path                    \WINDOWS\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 8.1
locale                  en-GB
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence        {7b41b78a-376d-11e3-9691-b8dc54503be8}
integrityservices       Enable
recoveryenabled         Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice                partition=F:
systemroot              \WINDOWS
resumeobject            {0ac2e94d-9111-11e4-a30b-aa4ab5087796}
nx                      OptIn
bootmenupolicy          Standard

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {15842726-9264-11e4-8259-74de2b71de90}
device                  partition=F:
path                    \NST\AutoNeoGrub1.mbr
description             Ubuntu
Community
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Paul Clavier
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  • That’s still the Windows 8 bootloader. The (blue-ish) screen you’re probably expecting only appears after Windows has booted almost completely. While maybe not as stylish, the current situation is much better. – Daniel B Jan 03 '15 at 12:08
  • @Daniel B Okay. I realize that the Modern bootloader is less practical, however I much prefer using it (I don't know, personal taste). I'd rather get back the Modern bootloader. How? I thought about rewriting GRUB2, and then following the guide linked again. – Paul Clavier Jan 03 '15 at 12:11
  • Could you please add the output of `bcdedit /enum` to your question? You need to execute this command as admin. – Daniel B Jan 03 '15 at 12:13
  • @DanielB I've added the information from `bcdedit`. – Paul Clavier Jan 03 '15 at 12:25
  • Well, I guess it’s not the easy solution then (about `bootmenupolicy`). You’ll have to wait until someone has another idea, sorry. – Daniel B Jan 03 '15 at 12:28

2 Answers2

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This used to work for me:

  1. Open EasyBCD in Windows 8.1, click Write MBR (with Install the Win7...to the MBR checked), OK and close.

  2. Open an elevated Command Prompt and type bcdboot C:\Windows, press Enter (and wait till cmd acknowledges it).

  3. Reboot (maybe twice, try once first).

Check if the Win8 bootloader is used.

Sometimes when I boot into Ubuntu and back to Windows it reverts to the Win7 bootloader, then I have to redo the process. Sometimes if I leave it as it is, it just uses the Win8 bootloader again!

Perhaps someone else could explain this phenomenon.

Rsya Studios
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-1

The correct solution in this case would be to delete element "displaybootmenu" which causes old text style boot menu.

Can be achieved easily with Visual BCD Editor.

Using "bcdboot" in this case removes the connection with recovery - "Repair your computer" disappears from advanced boot menu.

snayob
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