Summary
Technical Background
EFI System Partition (ESP)
NVRAM Boot Entries
Step 1 — Mount EFI Partition
Step 2 — Remove Linux Bootloader Files
Permission Errors
Step 3 — Remove NVRAM Boot Entries
3.1 List firmware entries
3.2 Identify entries to remove
3.3 Delete orphan entry
Step 4 — Remove drive letter
Troubleshooting
Problem 1 — Access denied
Problem 2 — delete fails
Problem 3 — entry still appears
Problem 4 — Windows does not boot
Commands Used
Version Notes
Tested Environment
Disclaimer Level: Intermediate
Estimated Time: 15–20 minutesOperating System: Windows 11 (UEFI systems) After replacing a Linux installation (such as Pop!_OS, Ubuntu, or Arch Linux) with Windows 11, old boot entries may remain visible in UEFI firmware. This happens because UEFI boot configuration is stored in: Both must be cleaned. ⚠️ Before you start: Backup your data. Modifying the EFI partition or NVRAM entries can make your system unbootable if done incorrectly. The EFI System Partition (ESP) is a FAT32-formatted partition that stores the bootloaders for all installed operating systems. On Windows systems, it typically ranges from 100–500 MB in size and is labeled as "System". UEFI firmware stores boot entries in non-volatile memory. Removing EFI files does not remove NVRAM entries. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. ⚠️ Replace 0 with your system disk number. ⚠️ Replace 1 with the EFI partition (~100–500 MB, Type: System) Remove Linux folders: 💡 On Portuguese Windows, use /d s instead of /d y. Remove entries that reference: Method 1 — Startup Repair Method 2 — Recovery Command Prompt ✅ Quick Checklist (click to expand) Backup before modifying EFI partition.
Verify disk and partition numbers carefully. Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use. Hide child comments as well For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
EFI/
├── Microsoft/
├── Boot/
├── pop_os/
├── systemd/
├── ubuntu/
└── linux/
EFI/
├── Microsoft/
├── Boot/
├── pop_os/
├── systemd/
├── ubuntu/
└── linux/
EFI/
├── Microsoft/
├── Boot/
├── pop_os/
├── systemd/
├── ubuntu/
└── linux/
list disk
select disk 0
list partition
list disk
select disk 0
list partition
list disk
select disk 0
list partition
select partition 1
assign letter=Z
exit
select partition 1
assign letter=Z
exit
select partition 1
assign letter=Z
exit
Z:
cd \EFI
dir
Z:
cd \EFI
dir
Z:
cd \EFI
dir
rmdir /s /q systemd
rmdir /s /q pop_os
rmdir /s /q systemd
rmdir /s /q pop_os
rmdir /s /q systemd
rmdir /s /q pop_os
takeown /f systemd /r /d y
takeown /f systemd /r /d y
takeown /f systemd /r /d y
icacls systemd /grant Administrators:F /t
icacls systemd /grant Administrators:F /t
icacls systemd /grant Administrators:F /t
rmdir /s /q systemd
rmdir /s /q systemd
rmdir /s /q systemd
bcdedit /enum firmware
bcdedit /enum firmware
bcdedit /enum firmware
Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {29c75bf6-3303-11f1-b7f4-e7fe7d8485ec}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi
description Pop!_OS Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description Windows Boot Manager
Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {29c75bf6-3303-11f1-b7f4-e7fe7d8485ec}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi
description Pop!_OS Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description Windows Boot Manager
Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {29c75bf6-3303-11f1-b7f4-e7fe7d8485ec}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi
description Pop!_OS Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
path \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description Windows Boot Manager
bcdedit /delete {29c75bf6-3303-11f1-b7f4-e7fe7d8485ec} /f
bcdedit /delete {29c75bf6-3303-11f1-b7f4-e7fe7d8485ec} /f
bcdedit /delete {29c75bf6-3303-11f1-b7f4-e7fe7d8485ec} /f
diskpart
select disk 0
select partition 1
remove letter=Z
exit
diskpart
select disk 0
select partition 1
remove letter=Z
exit
diskpart
select disk 0
select partition 1
remove letter=Z
exit
takeown /f systemd /r /d y
icacls systemd /grant Administrators:F /t
rmdir /s /q systemd
takeown /f systemd /r /d y
icacls systemd /grant Administrators:F /t
rmdir /s /q systemd
takeown /f systemd /r /d y
icacls systemd /grant Administrators:F /t
rmdir /s /q systemd
bcdboot C:\Windows /s Z: /f UEFI
bcdboot C:\Windows /s Z: /f UEFI
bcdboot C:\Windows /s Z: /f UEFI - EFI System Partition (ESP)
- UEFI NVRAM boot entries - GUID identifier
- Description
- Path to EFI loader
- Device reference - /s → removes directories recursively
- /q → quiet mode (no confirmation) - /f → target folder
- /r → recursive
- /d y → auto confirm - /f → force deletion without confirmation - entry already removed
- firmware protected entry
- invalid reference - remove EFI files first - firmware cache
- fallback recreated - reboot twice
- load BIOS defaults
- update BIOS - Boot Windows installer USB
- Repair your computer
- Startup Repair - [ ] Backup completed
- [ ] Disk/Partition numbers verified
- [ ] Microsoft/ and Boot/ preserved
- [ ] {bootmgr} and {current} not deleted
- [ ] Drive letter removed - Windows 11 24H2
- UEFI firmware
- Pop!_OS systemd-boot
