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How to delete GRUB files from a Boot EFI partition in Windows 10

Figure

After several failed attempts to dual-boot Ubuntu 15.04 and Windows 10 on a single hard drive and on a computer with UEFI firmware, and not knowing what caused the first failed attempt, I figured that subsequent failed attempts must have been due to an existing Ubuntu GRUB folder in the Boot EFI folder.

Especially since the machine always froze when the installer is attempting to install GRUB

So I thought that If I could just delete the ubuntu folder from the Boot EFI folder, that the installation would complete – successfully. Ultimately, it didn’t, but I figured out how to delete GRUB files from inside Windows 10, from the command line.

This post documents how it was done. It involved, from the command line, listing and selecting the detected hard drives, listing the partitions on the hard drive, then, finally, listing and deleting the target folder. Another reason you might want to do this, is if you deleted the Linux partitions, which would not automatically delete the GRUB files from the Boot EFI folder.

 

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To start, log into Windows 10, click on the menu and type cmd. Then right-click on the terminal application’s icon and select run as administrator. Figure 1 show the commands (underlined) used to accomplish the first step – listing and selecting the hard drive. To make it possible to copy-and-paste, for those who might need to, I’ve provided the commands in the code block after the last image.

In this figure, the target disk is shown as a 465 GB hard drive, with GPT partition.

Windows 10 diskpart

Figure 1: Using diskpart to list hard drives detected on Windows 10

After the target disk has been selected, its partitions are listed, so that the partition (volume) that corresponds to the Boot EFI folder can be identified. In Figure 2, that partition is Volume 2. It’s usually the only volume with FAT32 in the Fs (file system) column, and System in the Info column. After it has been identified and selected, you assign it a drive letter to make it easier to work with. In this example, I assigned it a drive letter D. After that, exit diskpart.

Listing Windows 10 partitions

Figure 2: Listing disk partitions on Windows 10

The final task involves changing into the Boot EFI folder, listing its contents to identify what subfolder the GRUB files would be. It will be in the EFI folder. The GRUB files for the distribution that was installed will be under a folder of the same name as the distribution. For example, if Ubuntu was installed, as in this example, the name of the folder will be ubuntu. Delete the folder using the rmdir /s command. That’s the Windows 10 equivalent of the Unix/Linux rm -r command. Note: If the ls command is not available in your shell, use the dir command instead.

Delete Ubuntu Boot EFI GRUB files

Figure 3: Deleting non-empty Ubuntu GRUB directory in Windows 10

All the commands used are given in this code block. Note that this procedure is not necessarily the best or only way to go about do this, so if you know of a better method, post a comment.

## These commands are used to identify and select the hard drive

diskpart

list disk

sel disk 0

## These commands are used to list the partitions, select the Boot EFI partition, 
## then assign it a drive letter

list vol

sel vol 2

assign letter=D:

exit

## These commands are used to change into the Boot EFI folder and delete the GRUB folder

cd /d D:

ls

ls EFI

cd EFI

ls

rmdir /s ubuntu

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akhil kumar
akhil kumar
4 years ago

thanks alot bro trying to fix this whole day and finally ur solution worked . thanks alot

Vinay kumar
Vinay kumar
4 years ago

Thanks a lot

Nymeria
Nymeria
4 years ago

Thanks it really helped.
🙂

Arkadiusz
Arkadiusz
4 years ago

Very practical tutorial!

Bhathiya
Bhathiya
5 years ago

Thanks dude

darkcoderpca
5 years ago

thanks man, you save my life

Doug
Doug
5 years ago

Well Linux Mint is gone off the computer now (back to the horrid Win 10) but the Linux swap file still remains. Any idea how to get rid of that hidden and unusable partition. 300 mb is a lot of disk space to lose / not have available.

Hamed
Hamed
5 years ago

It works:) Thanks

greta
greta
5 years ago

I get a ” positional parameter cannot be found that accepts argument ‘ubuntu’.
when I typed rmdir /s ubuntu . I had removed the ubuntu partition from disk management and all the commands shown in this article worked until the last one. Is there a suggestion ?

Soumya
5 years ago

Thanks it Works.

Mohan
Mohan
5 years ago

but i followed those three images, when i came the third image second command, which is ‘ls’ my command prompt showing ‘ls’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file. please help me

Zahran
Zahran
5 years ago

Its working dude thx a lot. Have some sosial medias? 😀

sarib
5 years ago

Hi, I was deleted the linux partition and rebooted my system now my PC always goes to (error: unknown file system entering rescue mod) any solution? Please help I’m waiting for your reply…

Xaaf
Xaaf
Reply to  finid
5 years ago

Hey,
Whenever I boot I’m getting an error that flashes away immediately. I have deleted the “Ubuntu” folder from that drive, and after a reboot, I got that error. I can’t do anything now. I need this working ASAP, so any help would be appreciated!

I seem unable to enter the BIOS. as well…

Xaaf
Xaaf
Reply to  sarib
5 years ago

Hi,

Getting the same problem here. I literally can’t use my laptop now, and I need it a LOT.
Please respond ASAP, as I need it working ASAP.

Thanks

Arunalu Kariyawasam
Arunalu Kariyawasam
5 years ago

Minor detail, but: in the image where you show the commands to delete EFI, you put ‘ls’ as the command instead of ‘dir’.

silva saja
silva saja
Reply to  finid
4 years ago

thats work i powershell instead cmd prompt

ankit kumar
5 years ago

Thanku my pc is not booting in kali ao i delete it and reinstall .now it’s working.

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