I replaced my i5-10400F with an i9-10900K in an MSI Z490-A Pro. The system recognizes the new processor and lets me enter the BIOS, but it no longer boots into Windows. What BIOS settings or hardware checks should I try to get Windows starting again?
2 Answers
Since the BIOS detects the processor, check whether your Windows drive is still listed as the first boot option. Make sure the system is using the same UEFI or Legacy/CSM mode as before. If the drive is missing, power down and reseat its cables or M.2 connection, then try loading optimized BIOS defaults. A CMOS reset can also help after a CPU swap.
TPM normally isn’t tied to a specific CPU, so changing processors alone shouldn’t prevent Windows from booting. If device encryption or BitLocker is enabled, Windows may ask for a recovery key, but that’s different from failing to find the boot drive. Also confirm the BIOS is updated enough for the i9-10900K and that the cooler is mounted properly.
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