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How to replace rEFInd bcuz M$ locks linux out of your system if M$ installed first.
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This will be long so get your salsa ready.
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1. Get your rEFInd from sourceforge
Since we are installing INTO windows, dl the zip.

2. extract to a folder.

2-a-: Install themes if you want any or edit the config if you want/need to, at this stage.

3. open a cmd as Admin and cd to the refind's folder.

4. mount system volume
`mountVol S: /S` will mount it to S:

5. use xcopy to copy as system
`xcopy /E refind-bin-x.xx.x\ S:\EFI\refind`

6tynice: go to System volume and to the refind folder
`S:`
`cd EDI\refind\refind`

7:Set rEFInd as Windows Boot Manager
`bcdedit /set {bootmgr} \EFI\refind\refind\refind_x64.efi`
(It's possible to use ia32 or aa64 for different architectures)

At this point, try plugging a linux thumb drive and restart your computer. Windows Boot Manager should be deactivated and should show refind.
You can use mouse and keyboard to select an OS boot or just set config to start one automatically unless you are holding a "power" button.
rEFInd also offers "fallback" boot for linux, which boots the efi from rEFInd and not from syslinux.

Comments
  • 0
    @f1973 sorry man I forgot due to school stuff
  • 0
    @F1973 bootloader bcuz m$ locks linux if the windows is installed first.
    I'm talking about both uefi and legacy linux here.
  • 1
    @F1973
    1. Afaik it's either 1803 or 1903 when it tries to upgrade to UEFI windows from legacy (yea that was a thing) and UEFI windows bootloader most of the time can't be affected to launch anything else.

    I tried installing linux to my thumb drive as usual and it didn't work, so I changed evrry bios setting but it didn't boot until I tried on another computer.
    FreeDOS my ass.

    2. You can always install linux on windows via installing an emulator and mounting an empty drive, however this (rEFInd) doesn't mean its launching linux inside windows, it's just a bootloader.

    3. Always backup! However, it worked on my machine 😂 Try making an empty partititon (RAW/FAT32) on windows and unmount if it needs to.
  • 3
    This is why I have physically separate boot devices. Linux on one, windows on the other.
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