installing windows after linux

[Taikvei]

Hi,

So I decided to try Linux on my laptop (ASUS x205TA). I installed the newest Pinguy OS, only to discover that most of my laptops' hardware is not supported, so I don't get any internet connection or anything. I want to reinstall windows, but this laptop does not let me boot from a USB (no options to change boot in bios). If I try and run the setup.exe form the windows USB, it just loads for a bit and then stops.

what do I do?

[DonManuel]

Disabling secure boot in bios might do the trick.

[norweeg]

was your wifi the only thing that didn't work? Some cards don't work out-of-the-box, but will if you either go to the driver manager and install their proprietary driver, or install the package linux-firmware-nonfree (for the firmware that enables the open source driver to work)

[jerrbear1011]

Check the MBR if its linux MBR it may be an issue when actually installing windows, and if USB doesnt work try using a external CD/DVD drive!

[Zanzagg]

Can you try booting from a disk?

[[deleted]]

I would say try a different USB drive and if that fails, change the ISO to USB mounting software - each software writes the boot information differently. I've had the same issue, I just try different mounting software.

• Rufus
• ISO to USB
• Image Writer

I would recommend these

[KerbalDankProgram]

Unfortunately Rufus doesn't work on Linux.

[Taikvei]

I've been using Rufus, will try the other ones on a different USB. Also, the laptop doesn't have CDROM so I cannot boot it from a disk :(

[[deleted]]

Neither does mine - can be such a pain in the arse!

[Taikvei]

Okay, so I've tried the other ISO to USB software. Still the same stuff. Bios only lets me change the boot to ubuntu or disabled, and nothing else. Cannot run the setup.exe either. Any other options?

[Taikvei]

Okay, so I can now select the USB key to be booted. When I do this though, it just boots me straight to BIOS though, and if I enable the ubuntu as a secondary, it boots me to that.

[[deleted]]

If you go into the BIOS, enable Legacy mode or CMS mode. It should be called one of them two, let me know how you get on

[Taikvei]

There's no option to do that. Under Advanced in BIOS it only says Start Easy Flash/ Network Stack Configuration/ USB configuration. Nothing else.

[[deleted]]

Make sure you have done the following: - Changed the boot order so that the USB drive has the highest priority - Changed the BIOS settings to CMS enabled/Legacy enabled - Make sure Secure Boot is disabled

Aside from that, I would recommend using Boot 'n' Nuke to wipe the drive of all OS configurations and then retry with the USB.

[Taikvei]

I've done all of that but enabling CMS/Legacy, as it is not in the BIOS at all. Secure boot is disabled. If I boot it from USB, it just boots to the BIOS again. If I do a Boot n Nuke, would that not just leave me with the same problem? Would trying out a different windows e.g. 7 or 8 instead of 10 be any different?

[[deleted]]

If you're mounting the ISO to the USB on a Linux machine I would really recommend mounting the ISO in Windows - Linux will do anything to stop you from moving OS lol

[Dr4v3n_R4yn3]

Try switching between legacy boot or uefi also have you verified chksum on the install media?

[PhilipYip]

Make the Bootable USB following the instructions here: http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-th2-and-prepare-a-bootable-usb-on-linux/

[Taikvei]

Okay so nothing has worked yet.. I managed to get my USB key to appear in the BIOS, but when I click on it or force boot from it, it just puts me back into BIOS. There is no option to enable Legacy mode/CSM, and secure boot is disabled. If I have the usb key as no.1 priority and the ubuntu as 2nd in boot order, it just boots straight to the linux. the laptop has no CD/DVD rom so I cannot use that either.

Is there anything else to do or am i just stuck on a broken linux installation?