I'm looking at moving from Windows to Linux and decided to try Zorin OS. Windows 10 is install on one SSD and I did install Zorin OS Pro 18 on a second SSD. Safe Boot is off in Bios and it seems I do not have the option to turn off either MSI Fast Boot or Fast boot. At the start of the install of Zorin, Windows was not picked up as a installed OS. I checked on Safe Boot once again and it was off and I continued to install even though Windows wasn't detected. Install when well and I updated things that needed to be updated based on the update screen after logging into Zorin. I also ensured Grub was updated but still no Windows as a boot option. Even though Bios sees the Windows SSD listed upon entering the boot menu options with F11, only Zorin was listed as a boot device. So, no option to boot Windows. I removed the SSD with Zorin on it and now Windows isn't even a boot option any longer even thought the drive is listed as a drive in Bios. I can see that all the folders and files are still on the Windows SSD. So, it doesn't look like anything was messed with during Zorin install. Suggestions would be great. Thanks
I will start by trying to help you get back to booting Windows. Then we (as a community) can help you with Zorin.
Can you boot into Windows by manually selecting it via F11 (was F11 your BIOS boot option key?) Wouldn't it be lovely if the industry got together and said "let's all use the same key".
And did you turn safe boot back on?
Windows requires safe boot, so unless you modified Windows to not (like using Rufus) it will demand it.
The other thing I've heard is that Windows itself has fast boot in the power/performance settings (iirc "choose what happens with the power button", in advanced). If that is using "fast boot" then Windows doesn't properly shut down. It goes into some kind of hybrid hibernate state. In such cases Linux can't see the bootloader and Grub doesn't update.
Lastly, if I were you, I would use this as an opportunity to "upgrade" (
) to Win11. 10 is unsupported and is a security risk. If you do, use Rufus to create the installer which removes the need for safe boot.
This can be done in-place (upgrade) or as a fresh install. I can find videos for you if you're interested, there's a couple of really good and easy to follow ones somewhere in my watch history.
Hi and welcome 
Also, is Legacy/CSM (MBR) enabled in your BIOS settings?
It sounds like Windows is on MBR boot, Zorin OS is installed as EFI boot.
Here's what I found and not sure how it occured but have fixed the issue. The Windows 10 SSD did not have a EFI bootloader on it at all. So, no boot. I'm assuming it was using the 1TB drive (previous Win11) I have as a bootloader to lunch Win 10. However, after installing Zorin on the 1TB SSD, the Windows bootloader was erased. I did a clean install of WIn 10 (2TB SSD) and clean install of Zorin (1TB SSD). Windows 10 was picked up during Zorin install. So, all worked out. Why, Windows 10? I was one of the many effected by the Microsoft **** storm back in Jan and could never get back into Windows 11. Win 10 is covered until Oct 2026, which gives me time to take Zorin and probably Mint for a test drive and fix any hiccups for the final move. Done with Windows but my work is in Windows for right now.
Issue now: System only boots into Windows. I don't receive a Dual-boot option, which my understanding is a known issue with dual-booting Windows/ Linux. What is the fix? I assume a WIndows issue. Thanks
Did you try @Aravisian suggestion about a legacy/UEFI mismatch? If that isn't the problem, are both your bootloaders in the same partition, even though you have everything else on separate SSDs? They should be. If not, and assuming no mismatch, you might be able to use OSProber in terminal (there are threads about this if you search the forum). Are you completely powering off before trying to get a dual boot grub menu, or is windows doing a fast boot "hibernation" instead? BTW for me windows works just fine with safeboot disabled.
Yes, your assumption is on target. The EFI is programmed to Only See Windows OS as Trusted.
You can try these steps here:
These are the steps you are most concerned with:
- At the BIOS/UEFI settings screen, navigate to the “Boot” tab using the ← → keys.
- Make sure that the “Secure Boot” option is enabled. If it’s disabled, scroll down to it using the ↑ ↓ keys and press Enter to set it.
- Navigate to the “Security” tab.
- Use the ↑ ↓ keys to highlight the “Select a UEFI file as trusted for executing” option and press Enter.