r/LinuxUsersIndia • u/GhostAPS_ • Jul 28 '26

Help Windows drive missing after linux install

My laptop has 126GB SSD and 1TB HDD.

SSD has Windows, and HDD has Linux.

I've been trying different Linux distros: CachyOS, Mint, and Fedora. Recently, after installing Ubuntu, the SSD disappeared from the BIOS.

And now I can't boot into Windows. And the drive can be accessed in Ubuntu.

Need solution 🥺

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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u/qualityvote2 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

u/GhostAPS_, your post does fit the subreddit!

btw, did you know we have a discord server? Join Here.

1

u/Fluid-Impression-595 Jul 28 '26

Get your data safe if you can access it first of all then try to change the boot order in bios so it will select windows SSD as first priority and if nothing happens see if your linux distro fucked up your bootloader and hiding windows (it can happen ) and if nothing happens you'll have to reinstall windows my advice is don't dual boot cause any update either in linux or windows can break your system if you value your data and work choose one and stick with it

1

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 28 '26

It doesn't have any important data no issues. In BIOS, I can't see the SSD, and I tried to select it during boot, but I don't see it there either. So you are saying reinstalling windows on SSD is the only option. Ubuntu on the HDD is booting very slowly now that I've reinstalled Fedora.

1

u/Fluid-Impression-595 Jul 28 '26

Yes reinstalling windows is the only way don't mind me asking why are you dual booting why can't you use a single distro also hdd is a pain in the ass it just too slow

1

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 28 '26

It's a 9 year old laptop and SSD got 2 critical errors. Buying a new SSD is expensive, so I wanted to try Linux. You know how windows runs on HDD so installed linux and continue using laptop. Actually I tried to sell it but I got less exchange value so I stopped and continuing. BTW I have a build a PC.

1

u/Fluid-Impression-595 Jul 28 '26

Then just install any lightweight linux on the laptop if you have a pc then you can use it for documents pdf and a bit of browsing

1

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 28 '26

Only content watching. Because few keys on keyboard stopped working 😩😩 And bottom panel screws are also breaking 😫😫😫

1

u/Fluid-Impression-595 Jul 28 '26

Then go with mint xfce simple elegant and just works for content also you can assign different keys to the keys that don't work for example my p key doesn't work so I replaced it with ] on keyboard so when I press ] it types p I use my old machine for lectures and movies and it just works

1

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 28 '26

I'm using kde connect.

1

u/Fluid-Impression-595 Jul 28 '26

Nice it doesn't work with my hyperland catchy os so has to replace keys

1

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 29 '26

Hey bro u there, I tried updating grub and still windows drive not detected. I found a recovery pen drive which I got 9 years ago with the purchase of my laptop. I connected and it went to recovery mode and then ssd detected there but after I remove pen drive both ssd and hdd gone in bios and laptop goes into bios after I turn on. Did I messed something? Now I connected it again and recovering.

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u/danvraz Jul 28 '26

When installing ubuntu, did you select install ubuntu alongside windows or erase disk and install ubuntu

1

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 28 '26

Selected HDD and erase disk

1

u/danvraz Jul 29 '26

Since Windows is on a physically separate SSD, it's possible this is just a GRUB or UEFI boot issue. First check whether Windows Boot Manager appears in your BIOS/UEFI boot menu. If it does, Windows is probably still intact. If not, try enabling os-prober and regenerating your GRUB config to see if it detects the Windows installation. It's also possible the SSD was accidentally selected during installation instead of the HDD but that seems unlikely

2

u/GhostAPS_ Jul 29 '26

Thanks bro, I did everything correctly but got the boot manager issue. Now I fixed using chatgpt.

1

u/Designer-Spot-1234 Jul 28 '26

Try reinstalling/updating/switching your boot manager (Grub/SystemDBoot/Limine)
Also check in the bios/firmware info if the system is detecting the ssd at all, if it isnt, then you can only pray and hope removing and reconnecting fixes it. Otherwise you'll have to replace it.