[MSI newbie] Reset EC = a process to do after flashing BIOS?

I know the question maybe a bit silly, but still want to make myself clear:

I see lots of posts mentioned something like "try EC reset but not flashing BIOS".....

so far, flahing the BIOS, I know what it is; but for the EC (embedded controller) reset, is it just a sequence of steps that should be done after BIOS flashing in MSI laptop?

or the EC reset can fix some other hardware problem rather than just a task to do after BIOS flashing???

On my previous laptop computer, the BIOS flashing progress will automatically perform an deep reboot after the flash, not necessary go through any EC reset at all.....

Please correct me if I get wrong in any idea

Thank you!

 

I think the EC resets whenever the laptop gets a cold reboot.

They may have instead been talking about resetting the BIOS to its stock settings, by clearing CMOS.

 

Yes the EC resets when the main AC and battery are removed.

It's a good step to try if you get odd behavior after any firmware writing.

 

It doesn't necessarily fix hardware problems, but it's a laudable troubleshooting step during erratic behavior, as Meaker said. You're just draining the current from the controller chip when you do it. And no, it's not necessary after a BIOS flash.

 

Got a little bit confused on it, doesn't a BIOS flashing action belongs to a kind of firmware update? What I know is that it is not bad to update with new (and stable) BIOS to fix and potential hardware issue and incompatible fix at all, what about the EC flash? I see the posts mention about the EC firmware, do I have to keep and eye on it to update to fix and potential issue? How should I know if a issue is raised up by the EC?

um... confused...

[from MSI official forum:
If do you flash a notebook BIOS, you must do the following AFTER the flash:

1. Turn notebook OFF with button, hold 4 seconds.
2. Remove recharge plug
3. Remove battery
4. Leave it like this for about 5 minutes.
5. Put everything back and power the laptop again.]

 

Once an EC flash has been done you reset it to make sure it takes its new values otherwise the EC will keep whatever it has running at the moment, think of it as having RAM, you have to power it off so that next time it starts it reads from the HDD rather than the RAM.

For anything else you only have to do it if you get odd behavior like I said. The list is far to long to go over, but odd fan variations is one example.

 

UMm...... ok, so is it necessary to perform a EC reset process after a BIOS flash?

 

Bolded the important part for you

 

Following an EC flash or erratic behavior: yes.

Following a BIOS flash: no. But it's not going to harm it either way.