Ubuntu – How to remove the extra Ubuntu option on the Windows Boot Manager menu

wubi

I installed ubuntu using Wubi side by side with Windows. I decided to uninstall ubuntu and install Kubuntu, which I did successfully. However now when I boot my computer, the Windows Boot Manager displays 3 options:

  • Windows
  • Ubuntu
  • Kubuntu

The Ubuntu option does not work, but the entry did not get removed when I uninstalled Ubuntu the first time. How do i get rid of this extra entry?

Best Answer

For Windows Vista, 7 or 8, run bcdedit as an administrator (hit Windows key, type cmd, look above and right-click CMD.EXE and select Run as administrator).

This will list the Windows Boot Manager entries:

C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {bootmgr}
device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {globalsettings}
default                 {current}
resumeobject            {1476af5e-e5bc-11de-b180-0024543ae029}
displayorder            {current}
                        {1476af63-e5bc-11de-b180-0024543ae029}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 10

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence        {1476af60-e5bc-11de-b180-0024543ae029}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \windows
resumeobject            {1476af5e-e5bc-11de-b180-0024543ae029}
nx                      OptIn

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {1476af63-e5bc-11de-b180-0024543ae029}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \ubuntu\winboot\wubildr.mbr
description             Ubuntu

C:\windows\system32>

Note the Real-mode Boot Sector entry that has a description of Ubuntu. Copy and paste the identifier and then delete it as follows (in my case):

bcdedit /delete {1476af63-e5bc-11de-b180-0024543ae029}

For Windows XP, you can edit C:\boot.ini. I recommend making a backup first as an error can prevent Windows from booting. Also you should edit it as follows:

  1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  2. On the Advanced tab, click Settingsunder Startup and Recovery.
  3. Under System Startup click Edit.
  4. Delete the line C:\wubildr.mbr = "Ubuntu"
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