Linux Mint does not show anymore when booting up (goes to windows 11 only) how do I get it back

[BakerJohn]

Got a HP all in one a year or so ago loaded Linux Mint into it to able to choose Linux Mint or Windows 11 , I've been using Linux generally since I like Linux better and have used Linux of and on over the last 5 to 10 years, yesterday I was going back and forth a bit between Windows 11 and Linux getting some stuff changed over there was an update during this when I closed the computer down , this morning when i booted the computer up it went directly to windows 11   usually it shows the Linux  and Windows choice      no sign of Linux  this morning and no sign of it after turning it of and on a few times.

How can I boot it in safe mode or what ever way to see what happened to the Linux Mint.       

Help please !!

p.s.  I'm a senior and NOT computer savvy so please use plain directions and suggestions.

Thanks  John

[TheOldMan]

If this setup was working with Windows 11 and Linux and then suddenly no longer gives you a choice, was the choice given on bootup and now is gone?

If yes, then the bootloader has been modified by something and it needs to be corrected.

Here is a discussion with what seems to be the same situation (except Ubuntu is the Linux instead of Mint) where it should be the same process to return the bootloader to what should work.

BTW: I am a senior, too.  Howdy!

[BakerJohn]

Thank you  for the reply  TheOldMan not sure if it helps or not as I don't know  where to go for the solution or discussion

yes  when I turned on the computer it would give me the choice Linux Mint automatically  or click down to go to windows 11.

b.t.w.  there is a message that shows briefly when turning the computer on but it is briefly as I said  but it starts with :

FAILED TO OPEN \ EFI \ ubuntu grub x 64. efi  Not Found  etc. 

several lines but they disappear to fast for me to copy it all

What do I do to get it back to a choice for Linux again. ?

[TheOldMan]

I see I failed to include the link to the discussion I mentioned, sorry.  However, I lost it myself but here is a guide on how to fix Grub bootloader.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

They are using Ubuntu as the Linux OS but you can make or use the media that you installed Linux Mint to boot as a live and then do the repair, that is assuming you still have the media.  You can make a new Linux Mint as a Live media - that means boot to the Live media and it will not install the OS.  Of course if you would rather reinstall Linux Mint will doing this, that is included.

https://www.fosslinux.com/274/how-to-create-linux-mint-live-usb-drive-on-windows.htm

[BakerJohn]

Thanks,  not sure were the usb is that  Linux Mint is on as we packed a lot of stuff preparing for a move, if I understand things right I'd have to get into BIOS try and make usb the first when booting and use a usb with Linux Mint does that erase all my previous stuff I had on   L. M. 

[BakerJohn]

follow-up question  with the boot repair usb stick  do I also have to go into BIOs and change it to usb booting first ?

[TheOldMan]

In answer to the last two questions, yes you will need to get into the BIOS to change boot order to the USB flash drive. Once you have found the Linux Mint flash drive or you have made the new one

https://www.fosslinux.com/274/how-to-create-linux-mint-live-usb-drive-on-windows.htm

You need to boot to the Linux to use the Grub repair tool or boot to the Live Linux that was just made from the above link.  If you are in the Linux Live OS, no changes will be made to the already installed Windows and/or Linux.  Using the Grub repair will only make changes to the boot loader to bring back the Grub boot loader that will give you the choice of OS at boot time.

If that seems to be too involved, there is a boot repair tool software called EasyBCD.

https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

There is a free download to fix it.  I have used EasyBCD before but not on a Windows 11 machine.  It does support Windows 11 now, however.  Just scroll down on the page I linked to find the free for non-commercial use.  It will tell you how to make the necessary items and how to use it.  I believe you can at least make everything or maybe even use it while in Windows.

[BakerJohn43]

Tried both downloading a new mint and the boot repair so far no luck I'll keep trying for  a bit longer

[BakerJohn43]

Hello again ,  The Old Man  as one Old Man to an other   haha , well i must say things are progressing slowly I got a bootable Linux Mint and got into the computer with it but when  I download it  I guess I'll loose all my previous info as I started to do that but it wanted to change partitions on the disks etc.  so I backed out of it  as I would like to keep  all my previous stuff or at least as much as possible. 

I downloaded Easy BCD it is in my Windows 11 section but I guess it'll only help with the Windows11 section and not help in the Linux Mint section.  Do I need to put it on a thumb drive and or what to fix the Linux Mint problem or what do I need to do to fix the Linux Mint problem ? 

[TheOldMan]

Yes, so it seems.  One Old Man to another -

On the Linux Mint - when that starts there should be a place where it asks to pick whether to install or try.  It would seem that it was trying to install, from the description posted.  If you wish to use the Live version to try the grub repair, that will work.  If you would rather try the EasyBCD, then since you have downloaded that, start it up by double clicking the downloaded file.  It can fix the dual boot problem.  When EasyBCD starts, you should see a Window similar to this -

when EasyBCD starts up.  You can toggle thru the screens by

 It should guide you thru the process of seeing if the Linux Mint is still there and then fix the boot loader so you can start either Linux Mint or Windows 11 at boot.

Fell fee to ask more questions.  I will try to guide you thru this.  Post screen shots or take a photos as you progress thru the process so I can see what needs to be done.