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I have tried the bootrec fixmbr and fixboot method, I've tried the n60 method, I've even tried removing from a Ubuntu live usb. All fixes are temporary. I can boot into Windows 8.1 no problem but in the bios, the ubuntu boot option persists.

I've tried easybcd to remove the option and it just returns after a reboot. It's not an empty option either. If I set the boot option #1 or boot override to ubuntu, it boots into grub and I have to reboot and force windows to boot through the bios.

I have 3 partitions on my harddrive, all windows created.

Disk Management screenshot, from Windows

(Full size screenshot showing disks and partitions here.)

These are the entries for the computer's (only) hard disk shown:

hard disk partitions

I deleted anything Ubuntu related using OS Uninstaller within a live usb of Ubuntu. How does grub/ubuntu in the bios keep returning? I just want to completely nuke it.

Thank you!

The Ubuntu Boot Option in the BIOS persists no matter what:

photo of screen showing this is really in the BIOS and not in GRUB

(Full size here.)

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  • It's unfortunately exactly the same fix I have already tried in many different ways/methods. Thanks anyway. I'm starting to wonder whether anyone has ever had a problem like mine, it's very bizarre.
    – user236851
    Jan 17, 2014 at 12:45
  • Ok let me clarify. When I say BIOS, I mean BIOS. So in the boot options in my BIOS settings, "ubuntu" is still there. It's still an entry. I can set it to boot option 1 or 2 etc for example. IF I do set "ubuntu" to the boot option 1 or if I use the BIOS boot override and select ubuntu, it boots into grub where I cannot do anything. If I want to access windows, I either need to set windows to boot option 1 in the BIOS, or do the manual override in the BIOS, otherwise, if the first boot option is set to ubuntu, it boots into grub. I've put a link to an image in my post.
    – user236851
    Jan 17, 2014 at 12:55
  • Added. There isn't a disk partition with Ubuntu as the label. Ubuntu was installed on the same disk. A 250GB drive.
    – user236851
    Jan 17, 2014 at 13:20
  • How was it installed? Did it have its own separate partition(s) at that time? Also, is it possible that the entry for [ubuntu] is referring to the live USB disk (or CD/DVD) used to install it (and/or remove it). Does the [ubuntu] BIOS entry appear even when you make sure to boot without that drive attached? Note that this drive will still appear (and maybe be, to some degree) bootable if you put other files on it and/or delete stuff from it. Jan 17, 2014 at 13:26
  • I suggest using efibootmgr to delete the entry: sudo apt-get install efibootmgr. Please read its man page before doing anything with it: man efibootmgr.
    – henry
    Jan 17, 2014 at 13:29

1 Answer 1

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edit I made this answer after Eliah suggested I do so, however he has removed his comment in the meantime.

I suggest using efibootmgr to delete the entry:

sudo apt-get install efibootmgr

Please read its man page before doing anything with it:

man efibootmgr

The following excerpts are direct quotes from the man page and give some good clues about the use of efibootmgr:

Displaying the current settings (must be root).

$ sudo efibootmgr
BootCurrent: 0004
BootNext: 0003
BootOrder: 0004,0000,0001,0002,0003
Timeout: 30 seconds
Boot0000* Diskette Drive(device:0)
Boot0001* CD-ROM Drive(device:FF)
Boot0002* Hard Drive(Device:80)/HD(Part1,Sig00112233)
Boot0003* PXE Boot: MAC(00D0B7C15D91)
Boot0004* Linux

This shows:

  • BootCurrent - the boot entry used to start the currently running system

  • BootOrder - the boot order as would appear in the boot manager. The boot manager tries to boot the first active entry in this list. If unsuccessful, it tries the next entry, and so on.

  • BootNext - the boot entry which is scheduled to be run on next boot. This supercedes BootOrder for one boot only, and is deleted by the boot manager after first use. This allows you to change the next boot behavior without changing BootOrder.

  • Timeout - the time in seconds between when the boot manager appears on the screen until when it automatically chooses the startup value from BootNext or BootOrder.

  • Five boot entries (0000 - 0004), along with the active/inactive flag (* means active) and the name displayed on the screen.

Following are several examples at the bottom of the man page, with two of them being especially helpful:

3. Changing the Boot Order

Assuming the configuration in Example #1,

efibootmgr -o 3,4

could be called to specify PXE boot first, then Linux boot.

5. Deleting a boot option

Assuming the configuration in Example #1,

efibootmgr -b 4 -B

could be called to delete entry 4 and remove it from the BootOrder.

Conclusion

The number you specify relates to the last number in the 4-digits-figure provided by sudo efibootmgr.

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