Fixing Dual Boot With Kali Linux and Windows 10: Troubleshooting GRUB Boot Issues

If you've recently dual-booted your PC with Kali Linux and Windows 10, and now your system boots directly into Kali Linux with no option for Windows 10 to be displayed in the GRUB menu, you've come to the right place. This article will guide you through various steps to resolve this issue and restore your dual-boot configuration.

The Problem

When your dual-boot setup is no longer showing the option for Windows 10 in the GRUB menu, your system automatically boots into Kali Linux. This can be frustrating, especially if you need to access Windows applications or files. Follow the steps below to get your dual-boot setup back on track.

Steps to Resolve GRUB Boot Issues

1. Updating GRUB Configuration

The first step is to update the GRUB configuration to ensure it correctly detects both Kali Linux and Windows 10. Here's how you can do it:

Boot into Kali Linux. Open a terminal. Run the following command to update the GRUB configuration: bash sudo update-grub This command scans for installed operating systems and updates the GRUB menu accordingly.

2. Verifying the Windows Boot Loader

If the GRUB menu still doesn't show Windows 10 after updating, it's essential to verify the integrity of the Windows boot loader:

Identify the partitions:

bash sudo fdisk -l

Look for a partition that is labeled as NTFS, which is typically where Windows is installed.

Mount the Windows partition:

bash sudo mkdir /mnt/windows sudo mount /dev/sdXY /mnt/windows

Replace /dev/sdXY with the actual partition identifier like /dev/sda1.

Check for Windows files:

bash ls /mnt/windows

3. Reinstalling GRUB

If the above steps don't resolve the issue, reinstalling GRUB might be necessary:

Boot into a Live USB/CD of Kali Linux. Open a terminal and mount your root partition: bash sudo mount /dev/sdXY /mnt

Replace /dev/sdXY with your Kali root partition.

Mount other necessary filesystems: bash sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys Chroot into your system: bash sudo chroot /mnt Reinstall GRUB: bash grub-install /dev/sdX

Replace /dev/sdX with your main drive like /dev/sda, not a partition.

Update GRUB again: bash update-grub Exit chroot and unmount: bash exit sudo umount /mnt/dev sudo umount /mnt/proc sudo umount /mnt/sys sudo umount /mnt Reboot your system: bash sudo reboot

4. Using Boot Repair as an Alternative

If the problem persists, you might consider using a tool like Boot Repair from a Live USB. This tool can automatically fix many boot issues and simplify the process.

Following these steps should help you restore your dual-boot configuration and have both Kali Linux and Windows 10 available in the GRUB menu. If you continue to experience issues, consider providing more details about any error messages or behavior during the boot process to get further assistance.