cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/6734778

My laptop is (maybe was) Linux and Windows 10 dual booted. I was reinstalling the Linux OS and in the process I accidentally formatted the Windows 10 boot partition. At least I think it is the boot partition because I don’t really know how Windows works (or doesn’t work amirite).

This is the lsblk output:

$ lsblk -f
NAME        FSTYPE     FSVER LABEL [...] MOUNTPOINTS
nvme1n1     zfs_member 5000  zroot [...]
├─nvme1n1p1 vfat       FAT32       [...] /boot/efi
├─nvme1n1p2 swap       1           [...] [SWAP]
└─nvme1n1p3 zfs_member 5000  zroot [...]
nvme0n1
├─nvme0n1p1
└─nvme0n1p2 ntfs

The nvme0n1p1 is the one related to booting. I accidentally formatted it.

I have a Windows 10 USB prepared. I tried looking online and I never found a question asking exactly for this. The ones I found that were similar enough suggested different commands.

Anyone has experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

  • echolaliaEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    Did u run across this thread?

    windows answers forum

    This seemed to work for me (I am in a similar situation) but ultimately failed only because (I believe) I have multiple drives and windows tries to incorrectly install on my nvme despite having an efi prepared on an SSD. Seems to be no way to specify the drive for bcdboot. I’m trying again when I have time off. It seems I may need to pull all unnecessary drives to get it on the right one.

    Anyway good luck

    Edit: I assume bcdboot defaults to my nvme in my specific case because after I tried restoring the boot partition:

    • i gave up and I nuked all partitions on my windows ssd.

    • I attempted a clean windows install on the ssd while Linux (with it’s own boot partition) lives on the nvme

    • It creates a new partition layout on the ssd complete with efi parition

    • then it poops its pants without installing anything to the boot partition it just created. Windows completely refuses to install now.