9 troubleshooting tips for dual booting Windows 8 and Ubuntu

Introduction

The following tips were added as comments to the article "How to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 8 in 10 easy steps".

I have created this post to highlight various possible solutions to issues that may arise whilst dual booting Ubuntu and Windows 8.

Tip 1 - Live USB could boot with Secure Boot enabled but had to be disabled during boot repair

Dan Heaphy stated that he was able to boot Ubuntu from live USB with secure boot enabled but during the boot repair stage he had to turn it off. Dan was using a Lenovo g500s.

Tip 2 - Boot orders, 64-bit and when to turn off secure boot

A similar suggestion was added for users of Toshiba Satellite C55-A5302 machines.

The user stated that (s)he was able to install with UEFI on but secure boot off but had to change the boot order to USB first, CD second and hard drive third.

As stated in the main article you have to use the 64-bit version of the ISO image.

The user also said that you should turn off fast boot in the control panel.

Note that this user stated that he did not require the use of the boot repair utility.

Tip 3 - No need to format swap partition

A couple of users are concerned that the guide says to format the swap partition.

As Virenda Singh pointed out, there is no option to check for formatting the swap partition so only the home and root partition need to be formatted.

Tip 4 - Windows 8 loses the boot menu

Oh Windows 8. What have you done to us.

For this user the installation went perfectly fine and (s)he was able to log into Ubuntu and then Windows but when rebooting again the boot menu disappeared and only Windows booted.

Virenda Singh to the rescue once more. These steps helped Virenda to prevent this issue reoccurring:

"So I went to BIOS again under UEFI boot options, these were the options:
        1) Windows Boot Loader
        2) Linux Boot Loader
        3) DVD Device

        So I made the Linux boot loader on top i.e. changing the order with F5 and F6 keys, then F10 Exit and Save, and my mission was completely successful :)"

Tip 5 - Removing Ubuntu

Some people will decide that Ubuntu isn't for them after all but how do you remove Ubuntu?

Follow this link it looks fairly promising http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/210983-dual-boot-delete-os.html

Tip 6 - Stay connected to the internet to prevent the boot loader from failing to install

This may be specific to the Toshiba Satellite C50 or to Ubuntu 12.04.

The user stated that the first time that (s)he installed Ubuntu the install failed whilst installing GRUB. Repeating the installation whilst remaining connected to the internet fixed the issue.

You will still need to run the boot repair utility.

Tip 7 - Screen goes black on a Toshiba

One user stated that despite following the instructions booting from the USB drive left them at a black screen with the Toshiba logo.

Another one of our users came up with a potential solution.

"I had the same problem and turned out to be an uncompatibility of ubuntu with the graphic card with a very easy solution (editing the screen options before installing ubuntu, using "e" in GRUB). In any case, this link explains how to solve this and other issues causing black screen while loading ubuntu:

        http://askubuntu.com/questions/162075/my-computer-boots-to-a-black-screen-what-options-do-i-have-to-fix-it/162076#162076
"

Tip 8 - No WIFI on Dell Laptop With Broadcom Network Card

One user stated that whilst using the live version of Ubuntu (s)he could not connect to the internet using a Dell laptop with a Broadcom network card.

Another user suggested the following:

"Try opening the Dash (press the Windows key on the keyboard) and search for "software". When a "Software and Updates" icon appears click on it. Now go to the additional drivers tab. Is there an additional driver listed for your Broadcom card. If so install it."
Tip 9 - All sorts of problems on the Dell Inspiron 660
The scenario is as follows:
"    Boot Menu:
    Ubuntu
    Advanced options for Ubuntu
    Windows UEFI bkpbootmgfw.efi
    Windows Boot UEFI loader
    EFI/Ubuntu/MokManager.efi
    UEFI/Dell/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
    UFI/Dell/Boot/bootx64.efi
    Windows Boot manager (UEFI on / dev/sda1)
    System setup

    the problem happened the 4rd time I booted my PC, this is what I got

    No boot device available
    SATA 0: Installed
    SATA 1: installed
    SATA 2: None
    SATA 3: None
    Strike the F1 key to retry boot, f2 to run the setup utility

    Now, I do not know what to do, I tried to do the repair with Boot repair again and It actually fixed the problem and I can boot from Ubuntu and/or windows, but after 3 boots, again the picture above appear,

    This problem seems to appear the 3rd time I do booting my PC after the installation
    your help will be appreciated"

Try following this link as it seems to be related to a similar problem to the one you are highlighting. http://www.imacynic.com/341

Tip 9 - Extra step required for ASUS x55a

Simon commented that on the ASUS x55a there is an extra step to be followed. Fast boot has to be disabled in the boot menu.

"What I had to do to disable fast startup was to enter the boot menu, and disable fast startup there, because it was still enabled after following your instructions to disable it. Once fast startup had been disabled in the boot menu I was able to have the dual windows/Ubuntu options running perfectly!"

Summary

Hopefully the suggestions provided by some of the readers here at Everyday Linux User will help other people to install Ubuntu.

If you have come across errors and you have managed to find a solution then feel free to post the problem and solution here.