In dual boot, cannot start Windows, only Zorin

[arjan191]

Good day, noob on Zorin here.

I've installed Zorin in dual boot configuration, by following the instruction on the Zorin-site. The other IS is Windows10.
Zorin runs fine, happily finding my way around.
I cannot start Windows 10. I found two ways to get to the dual boot screen, way 1 ends with Zorin starting up, way2 ends in a loop ending with the dual boot screen.

How do I adjust what settings so I can successfully choose either OS?

Screenshots from way 1:

After a couple of seconds after 'Enter', Zorin starts up successfully.

Screenshots from way 2:

The screen says:
Setting up partitiontype on x07
error: cannot find instruction 'drivemap'
error: invalid EFI file path.

Press any key

Upon 'Enter' the dual boot screen appears again. Neither Zorin nor W10 start up automatically (which is ok here), see screenshot below:

[Ponce-De-Leon]

• Are Secure Boot and Fast Boot in BIOs disabled?
• Is Fast Start-Up in Windows disabled?
• Is Your BIOS in UEFI or Legacy Mode?
• Is in BIOS in the Boot Order List an ''ubuntu'' entry? If yes: Is it set on first Position?
• What Tool did You choose the create the Bootstick?
• What Install Option did You choose during the Zorin Istallation? ''Install Zorin alongside Winodws'', ''Erase Disk'' or ''Something else''?
• Are the Systems on the same Drive or has every System it's own Drive?
• Did You tried it with Boot Repair? Start Zorin from the USB Stick in Live Mode (choose Try Zorin) and search for Boot Repair and let it run

[arjan191]

In BIOS both Secure and Fast Boot are disabled.
In Windows I think Fast Start Up is disabled, but cannot check as it doesn't start up.
BIOS is in 'EFI hybrid (with CSM)'-mode; there is also an option 'EFI (with CSM)'.
In BIOS boot order USB is on first position, no option to specify 'Ubuntu' (nor 'Windows'.
Boot stick was created with BelanaEtcher.
Installation option used I think is 'alongside Windows'; I followed the installation instructions on Zorin-site to a T.
Both OSs live one one SSD, each on their own partitions.
Could not run Boot Repair, as Zorin doesnt startup from bootstick, the installed Zorin does startup.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

@arjan191

Could not run Boot Repair, as Zorin doesnt startup from bootstick

And when You start the Bootstick from the BIOS?

[arjan191]

Took me a couple tries, than understood what you meant.

Starting Zorin Live from BIOS was successful. Ran Boot Repair. Restarted with Live USB removed, dual boot screen showed, chose W10, and guess what, Zorin started.

What do I have configure how to be able to chose either Zorin or W10.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

You clicked on the Windows Entry and Zorin started?

[Aravisian]

@arjan191

error: cannot find instruction 'drivemap'
error: invalid EFI file path.

What this tells me is that you installed Zorin OS as EFI but Windows OS was installed as MBR (Legacy).

There is no EFI bootloader for Windows OS, since it is MBR.
To fix this, you must either convert Windows OS to EFI and add a bootloader or convert Zorin OS to MBR.

[arjan191]

@Aravisian

convert Zorin OS to MBR.

I'll try that.
How do I do that?

[Aravisian]

There may be a post install method that I do not remember but... As this is a fresh install - The easiest way would be to wipe and reinstall Zorin OS as MBR, not EFI.
This is done by ensuring that your BIOS is set to CSM Legacy Boot - which it likely is for your Windows OS
and Burning the .iso for Zorin OS LiveUSB in MBR mode, not EFI mode.

[Forpli]

Here is a guide how to do this:

[How To] Convert Zorin Grub EFI to MBR and reverse

There may be instances where a user must change their Zorin OS install from EFI to MBR (legacy) or MBR to EFI. Often, this may be in order to ensure a consistent booting experience if more than one OS is installed. You want all installed OS's to preferably use the same Boot format. To convert from MBR to EFI (Replace sdX with your actual drive I.D. like sda or nvme0n1...): sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=ubuntu --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi /dev/sdX …

But a fresh install is probably easier.

[Aravisian]

@Aravisian

There may be a post install method that I do not remember but..

@Forpli

Here is a guide how to do this:

Now, you're just making fun of me.

[Forpli]

No, I just wanted to help you remember.

[arjan191]

Thank you both, I'll follow those instructions and report back.

[arjan191]

Well, that was interesting. All commands worked smoothly, but the last one. It reported something like 'prty missing'.
Didn't know what to do, so restarted.
And could choose either Zorin or Windows to start up.
Chose Windows, because I want to reallocate disk space, using window's disk manager that i'm a bit familiar with.
But to no avail.
Back to Zorin, expecting that a properly functioning disk managment utility will be available.
But got stuck in a startup loop with grub and different BIOS menus although I pressed the same F9 key upon each restart.
So took a leap of faith and am now installing Zorin as the only OS on the laptop, after first saving all data on an external drive that is now disconnected.
Hope I won't regret it, as I have not been able to try out Windows apps under Wine etc.

[Aravisian]

@arjan191

reported something like 'prty missing'.

That's... mysterious.

[arjan191]

Seems strange indeed.
But I/m happy that Zorin is running smoothly and I can try it out further.

@Moderator, please close this thread.