If you are one of those frustrated users who is searching for how to remove grub loader files from Windows 10/11 then you are in the right place! Guess what? You can do it without cd. Many users want to install both Ubuntu and Windows on their computer systems as we know that these both are different Operating System OS for a Computer. I have tried several times to install both of these OS on the same PC, but due to some reasons I always fail to do it.
After these failed attempts, I came to know that these failed attempts might be occurring because of the GRUB folder which can be found in the Boot EFI folder. I deleted the Ubuntu folder from the Boot EFI folder, to complete the installation. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.
So, I tried another technique or method on “How to delete GRUB files in a Windows 10/11 Boot EFI Partition.” It can be done by using Microsoft Windows 10/11 by using the command line. In this article, I am going to tell you how you can apply this method. In the previous guide, we talked about how to install the software in Kali Linux.
What is the EFI Boot Partition in Windows 10/11?
Before we begin with our primary topic, the first thing that we are going to do is discuss EFI Partition. EFI Partition system (also known as ESP) is a partition that is OS independent which also acts as a storage place for the EFI applications, bootloaders, and drivers to be started and used by the UEFI firmware.
The UEFI specification orders to provide support for the FAT32, FA16, and FAT12 file systems. The additional file systems can be supported by any conformant vendor optionally. Just like Apple Mac can support the HFS+ file system.
What is Grub and Grub Loader?
GRUB which is also known as Grand Unified Bootloader is a boot loader package that is created or developed by GNU Project. It is a reference exercise or implementation of Multi-Boot Specification which provides its user with a service. That service is a beneficial choice that depends upon the users of this software. This choice is about booting one or multiple Operating Systems (OS) which are installed on a single computer system. The user can also select a particular kernel configuration that is available on specific partitions of an operating system.
GRUB is software that was programmed or developed from a package which is known as Grand Unified Bootloader. It is broadly used for Unix-like systems. The Operating System of GNU uses or works with GNU GRUB as a boot loader, just like most Solaris OS and other Linux Distributions. The Solaris operating system is available for x86 based systems, with its first starting release named Solaris 10 1/06 release.
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What is a Grub File?
GRUB is designed to boot an expanded range of Operating Systems which are arising out of file systems of wide range as it is a boot loader. The number of possible root file-systems is increasing which reside upon Linux and due to this file-system GRUB is becoming really popular these days. Grub is permanently documented in an info file of GNU.
How to Delete Grub from Windows 10/11 (Using Command Line)
As I have discussed above the GRUB and about the GRUB files after we also talked about their purpose and working. So now I am going to explain to you about deleting GRUB files from Windows 10/11 with the help of Command-Line which is available in Windows.
The first thing that you have to do is work on the Command-Line and search for all of the available hard drives or partitions available on PC. Then after listing all of the available partitions on the hard drive of your PC you have to target a folder that consists of GRUB files.
Another reason for deleting this folder is that you won’t have to delete the Linux Partitions. Which would not delete the GRUB files automatically from the Boot EFI folder?
Now let’s get started and get rid of these GRUB files. The first step that you have to do is click on start and then move your mouse to the Menu and click it. Then after that, you have to type CMD in the search or run the bar. Then the next thing that you have to do is right-click on the icon of the application and then select the option “run as administrator.”
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In the 1st image or figure, I have underlined some commands which are used to achieve or complete the first step, such as: selecting and listing the hard drive. The target disk (disk from which we are going to delete GRUB files) is of 465 GB hard drive which consists of GPT partition.
Once you have selected the target disk, then all of its partitions will be listed in the CMD, now you can identify the partition or volume which corresponds to the Boot EFI folder. In the 2nd figure, the partition in which our GRUB files are present is Volume 2. The type of this single volume is mostly “FAT32” in the File System Fs column and it is denoted as System in the column named Info.
Once this partition has been selected and identified, then the next step that you have to perform is to assign a drive letter because it makes it really easy and straightforward to work. I have entrusted my disk or partition with the D letter.
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The last step is the most important step and this step is the essential full stop to all of this process. This final or previous step requires some changes to the Boot EFI folder, it will again list its contents, but this time it is going to identify the folder which contains GRUB files. These GRUB files will be available or installed under or in the folder with an identical name same as the distribution.
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As an illustration, if Ubuntu has been installed just like the example, then the folder name in which there are GRUB files will be of the name “Ubuntu” same as the distribution. Then the next step that you have to perform is to delete the folder by entering or using the following command “rmdir/s.” This command in Windows is equivalent of the Linux/Unix rm or –r command.
Now I am going to write the code which you can copy from here and paste it into your Command Prompt or CMD and run it to delete GRUB files from your PC.
The code which is required to be entered in CMD to remove grub from Windows 10:
The following commands are used or required to select and identify the hard drive:
- diskpart
- list disk
- self disk
These following commands are required or used to select the Boot EFI partition, list the partitions:
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First, assign the partition with any drive letter.
- list vol
- sel vol 2
- assign letter=D;
- exit
These following commands are required to open or select the Boot EFI folder and then locate and delete the GRUB folder
- Cd /d D:
- Ls
- lsEFI
- cd EFI
- ls
- rmdir /s Ubuntu
Another working fix:
There is another fix that has been suggested to me by one of our readers below:
- You will need to start “cmd” first of all.
- Once in command prompt run “diskpart”
- Next, you will need to type “list disk”
- Now run “sel disk XYZ”, where XYZ is your drive
- Now it is time to select the EFI volume
- For selecting the volume type “sel volume XYZ”
- Now type “exit” so you can stop diskpart
- Now open the back command prompt and type “XYZ:” and hit enter
- Now you will need to enter “dir” so you can list all the directors which are mounted in that volume, in our case its “XYZ”.
- Now you will need to change directory to EFI, and do rmdir /S ubuntu.
You can find more information about the above steps here.
The method above has been tested on the latest Windows 10 builds including 1909, 2004 and 20H2.
More Linux Guides to enhance your knowledge:
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Wrapping Up
In today’s tutorial, we discussed a very interesting topic that is very useful for the user who wants to install Windows 10 and Ubuntu in a single computer system without any problems. The topic which we discussed was “Deleting GRUB files from a Boot EFI partition in Windows 10/11”. However, no matter what version of Windows you are running make sure it is activated. You can read on how to activate Windows 10 for a lifetime using just CMD. The above guide will help you in removing grub rescue too without a cd.
I have tried several times to delete the GRUB files from my PC because I was really excited to install two different OS on a single computer system. But whenever I tried to do it there were some errors which I had to face. But now I found a way to install it by deleting these GRUB files. In this article, I explained to you what is GRUB and I also described the history of GRUB. Then furthermore we discussed the GRUB files and their importance and usage. After that, I showed you a way to delete all do these GRUB files from Windows 10/11 using CMD.
Useful info. Thanks. One problem I encountered was “Ls” command not recognised by Win 10 (ver 1903). So used the Cd method to change directories.
Glad you found it helpful.
Useful info. Thanks. One problem I encountered was “Ls” command not recognised by Win 10 (ver 1903). So used the Cd method to change directories.
Glad you found it helpful.
Useful info. Thanks. One problem I encountered was “Ls” command not recognised by Win 10 (ver 1903). So used the Cd method to change directories.
Glad you found it helpful.
Good to hear.
Good to hear.
Good to hear.
Good to hear.
Solution for non existent ls command in Win10 – replace “ls” with “dir”. All other commands worked. Using “dir”, I was able to dig down into the Russian nesting doll configuration – that most modern computers organize their file by – and figure out the directory that needed to be removed (ubuntu for me).
Thank you for the tutorial! It’s deceiving since the grub bootloader appears to be a BIOS issue, but whose CAUSE, at least, is within Windows’ control.
Glad we could help.
Solution for non existent ls command in Win10 – replace “ls” with “dir”. All other commands worked. Using “dir”, I was able to dig down into the Russian nesting doll configuration – that most modern computers organize their file by – and figure out the directory that needed to be removed (ubuntu for me).
Thank you for the tutorial! It’s deceiving since the grub bootloader appears to be a BIOS issue, but whose CAUSE, at least, is within Windows’ control.
Glad we could help.
Solution for non existent ls command in Win10 – replace “ls” with “dir”. All other commands worked. Using “dir”, I was able to dig down into the Russian nesting doll configuration – that most modern computers organize their file by – and figure out the directory that needed to be removed (ubuntu for me).
Thank you for the tutorial! It’s deceiving since the grub bootloader appears to be a BIOS issue, but whose CAUSE, at least, is within Windows’ control.
Solution for non existent ls command in Win10 – replace “ls” with “dir”. All other commands worked. Using “dir”, I was able to dig down into the Russian nesting doll configuration – that most modern computers organize their file by – and figure out the directory that needed to be removed (ubuntu for me).
Thank you for the tutorial! It’s deceiving since the grub bootloader appears to be a BIOS issue, but whose CAUSE, at least, is within Windows’ control.
Glad we could help.
FINALLY but some things didn’t go how they are supposed to be:
1. I had to type D: after cd /d D:
2. the 1s commands didn’t work, but I entered them in the right order, and however, it worked in the end
Good to hear now that it’s fixed.
FINALLY but some things didn’t go how they are supposed to be:
1. I had to type D: after cd /d D:
2. the 1s commands didn’t work, but I entered them in the right order, and however, it worked in the end
FINALLY but some things didn’t go how they are supposed to be:
1. I had to type D: after cd /d D:
2. the 1s commands didn’t work, but I entered them in the right order, and however, it worked in the end
FINALLY but some things didn’t go how they are supposed to be:
1. I had to type D: after cd /d D:
2. the 1s commands didn’t work, but I entered them in the right order, and however, it worked in the end