Issues When Switching Between Windows and Linux

If you have Windows and Linux installed on the same computer, you’ve probably encountered unpleasant issues when switching between operating systems.

Common Problems

When using a dual-boot configuration, users regularly face the following problems:

• Network connection failures — Ethernet and Wi-Fi stop working after switching from Windows to Linux
• Non-working Bluetooth — Bluetooth adapter is not detected or cannot connect to devices
• Read-only file system — Drives used by both systems are mounted in read-only mode and don’t allow writing data

Why does this happen?

The cause of all these problems is Windows hibernation mode. When Windows enters hibernation mode (Fast Startup), it doesn’t completely shut down but saves the system state to disk. This leads to locking of hardware devices and file systems, causing conflicts when booting Linux.

Automatic Solution

There is an elegant solution that automatically disables hibernation every time Windows shuts down. This ensures that on the next Linux boot, all devices will work correctly.

Step 1: Create Hibernation Disable Script

Create a text file named hibernate_off.bat and add the following command:

powercfg -h off

What does this command do?

The powercfg -h off command disables the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) and Fast Startup mode, freeing all hardware resources when the computer shuts down.

Step 2: Place Script in System Directory

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Copy the hibernate_off.bat file
3. Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown
4. Paste the file into this directory

Note

Administrator rights are required to access this folder. If the Shutdown folder doesn’t exist, create it manually.

Step 3: Configure Group Policy

Now you need to configure Windows so that the script runs automatically every time the system shuts down.

1. Press Win + R
2. In the “Run” dialog, type: gpedit.msc
3. Click OK

Step 4: Add Script to Shutdown Policy

In the Local Group Policy Editor:

1. Navigate to the following path in the left panel:

   Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Scripts (Startup/Shutdown) → Shutdown

2. Double-click on Shutdown

3. In the window that opens, click Add

4. Click the Browse button

5. Find and select the hibernate_off.bat file that you placed in the Shutdown folder

6. Click OK to confirm

7. Click Apply and then OK to save changes

Verify Configuration

After configuration, the hibernate_off.bat script should be displayed in the shutdown scripts list in the “Shutdown” window.

Result

After completing all steps:

• Network connections work stably
• Bluetooth devices connect without problems
• File systems mount with write permissions
• No need to manually disable hibernation every time

Important Note

Disabling hibernation will slightly increase Windows boot time (by 2-5 seconds), as the system will perform a full shutdown instead of fast startup. However, this is a small price to pay for stable dual-boot configuration.