Removing a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Mint can sometimes lead to boot problems in Windows 10. If you’re stuck with a “Winload.exe is missing or corrupted” error or a black screen after uninstalling Linux, this guide offers a solution using the Boot Repair tool. This process focuses on restoring the Windows bootloader, specifically addressing scenarios where standard bootrec.exe commands fail.
Reinstalling Linux for Boot Repair Access
The first step, counterintuitively, involves reinstalling a Linux distribution temporarily. This provides access to the GRUB bootloader, a crucial tool for fixing the Windows boot issue. Choose either Ubuntu or Linux Mint and install it alongside your existing Windows installation.
Once installed, reboot your system. You should be presented with the GRUB boot menu. Identify and select the option that boots into your Windows 10 installation.
Cleaning Up Linux Partitions
After successfully booting into Windows, use the built-in Disk Management tool to remove all partitions associated with the recently reinstalled Linux distribution. This includes the main Linux partitions and the smaller GRUB bootloader partition. Ensuring complete removal of these partitions is critical for the next steps. Pay careful attention to what you are deleting to avoid data loss. Double check before deleting any partition.
Reboot your system after deleting the Linux partitions. Your system might briefly display a splash screen followed by an error message, likely indicating a missing or corrupted Winload.exe file. Don’t panic; this is expected.
Using Boot Repair to Restore the Windows Loader
Now, boot your system from the same Linux installation media (USB or DVD) used in the first step. Once booted into the live environment, open a terminal and run the following commands to install and launch Boot Repair:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && (boot-repair &)Boot Repair will scan your system for bootloaders. This time, it should detect the missing Windows bootloader and offer a repair solution. Choose the “Recommended Repair” option and follow the on-screen instructions.
After the repair process completes, restart your computer.
Successful Boot into Windows 10
If the process was successful, your system should now boot directly into Windows 10 without encountering any errors. The Windows bootloader has been restored, eliminating the need for GRUB. This method has proven effective in situations where traditional Windows recovery tools fail to resolve boot issues after uninstalling Linux. Remember to always back up your data before making any significant changes to your system’s partitions.
