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I have been looking for a solution to my problem in this forum and elsewhere but could not really find one (that does not appear unpredictable or even dangerous).

My Problem:

When trying to create a bootable USB stick with a fully installed Ubuntu on my work computer, I accidentally installed the GRUB bootloader on the company laptop (instead of the USB drive). So now when I switch on the laptop (without the drive of course) it only show a GRUB prompt:

GNU GRUB version 2.04
Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions.
Anywhere else TAB lists possible device or file completion.
Grub> _

Bad, very bad. (And, yes, I know, very, very stupid.)

I have found instructions on how to remove GRUB from a Windows only system using Windows. That, however, I cannot do, since I don't have Administrator privileges in Windows.

Therefore the only thing I can do is boot the system from a Ubuntu pendrive and try to solve it from there.

Plus, I cannot tinker and try out things since I cannot afford to damage things even further (as of now the Laptop at least still works: when I press F9 for the boot menu, I can start Windows).

Can anybody help me, please?

Anna
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2 Answers2

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In short: Ubuntu doesn't help.

Ubuntu cannot install a Windows Boot Manager, of course. So you have to create a Windows repair medium, boot into it, and fix your bootloader there. You can refer to the method 1 of this tutorial.

As your Ubuntu on your thumb drive is entirely new and can be assumed that there are no data, you can just reinstall Ubuntu on your thumb drive. Be careful this time!

1F616EMO
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Thank you all!

In the end it was a combination of all your suggestions that did the trick.

This is what I did:

  1. Create a Windows installation medium

  2. Boot from that USB stick

  3. Choose "Repair your computer"/"Troubleshoot"/"Command Prompt"

  4. Follow these instructions minutely

Problem solved. Again: Thank you!

p.s. I am really impressed by this forum. The speed and competence of the answers I got is probably unique (or at least exceptional).

Anna
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