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    GX620 keyboard problem

    Discussion in 'MSI' started by longlifexs, Dec 9, 2008.

  1. longlifexs

    longlifexs Newbie

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    Hi,

    I bought a GX620X notebook less then 2 weeks ago, installed only the supplied drivers, Windows Vista 32 Ultimate, MS Office 2007 and Rainbow Six Vegas 2.

    Now while playing the Vegas 2 game, the keyboard suddenly stopped responding and got locked on one key (which was apparently W because my character kept running). Once I got killed, I managed to exit the game using (USB) mouse. When I turned Windows off, it ended up on the Turning-off screen, which stayed there indefinitely, so I had to take out the battery. When I turned the computer on again, everything was fine.

    Since then, it happened two more times without any SW changes, again in Vegas 2. Later I installed some more software and the same thing happened in GTA IV (W key again I think) and MS Word (different key than W, maybe Shift..can't really tell).

    Does anyone have an idea concerning the possible causes or - preferably - solutions to this problem? Or does it seem like a HW issue, which should be solved by the supplier?

    Many thanks!
     
    longlifexs, Dec 9, 2008
    #1
  2. cutterjohn

    cutterjohn Notebook Evangelist

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    Just taking an extremely brief look at the first page of the MSI sub-forum(here) would've shown my thread with the EXACT same problem.

    As I mentioned on the MSI forum, if you don't have v1.0I BIOS on the notebook and feel comfortable flashing (look in my thread on the MSI forum for link to a useful util to make a USB boot stick) try updating to v1.0I and see if it helps.

    I put v1.0I on mine a couple of days ago and it hasn't happened to me again yet. Before that in the c. 2w that I've owned it it happened 3 times to me, twice in linux, and once in XP Pro SP3.

    That said, MSI sent me a link to the real MS-1651 BIOS (yes, I have the barebones version, but they're really the same as the GX620, mine is exact same as GX620-038 US) AND an embedded controller firmware update which is LACKING from the GX620 (retail) BIOS downloads. i.e. you ONLY get the BIOS update apparently.

    The above paragraph taken into account, after 2d I've had no more input lockouts in either linux or XP with v1.0I of the BIOS, but I'm going to re-flash with my real v1.0I BIOS tomorrow AND the embedded controller firmware update.

    BTW:
    My BIOS said (before using GX620 flash)
    BIOS Build A1651IG6 Ver.1.0E 08/01/2008
    EC Build 1651EG61 Ver 4.23 09/08/2008

    After using the retail BIOS flash, IIRC it changed the BIOS ver to
    BIOS Build A1651MS6 ver.1.0I 10/17/2008
    (EC unchanged as there was no EC firmware to update with)

    The EC firmware that they sent me was v4.27, which tells me that they have been updating this quite a bit. I also happen to think that something with the embedded controller (EC) may be the problem, as if you look at my MSI thread (MSI Forum company site) you'll see my EC related log messages from around when it would stop responding to input, I would start getting those same 7 lines every few seconds, while normally I'd get the first 4 with many hours or even days between.

    Bottom lines here is, even if you don't feel comfortable flashing the BIOS, and you do NOT have v1.0I backup your stuff, follow the forum(MSI company) directions for notebook flashing, get and USE the community flash tool, make up a bootable USB stick and flash v1.0I. Also follow the sticky about EC reset procedure (remove battery and AC power for several minutes AFTER a successful flash of the BIOS, then replace battery and/or AC boot, go into BIOS and select Load Defaults(last tab), depending on your install you MAY also have to change the SATA controller to IDE mode and Compatible option enabled(rather than enhanced)).

    If it still doesn't work and you want to save RMAing you may want to open a ticket with MSI and see if they send you the updated embedded controller firmware too. Who knows one of these updates might just be the fix. (RMAin will a) be risky shipping this time of year with package volumes and lost packages, and b) because of same holidays service will be unbearably ssssllllloooooowwwww... downer is Chinese Tradiotional New Year will be not long afterwards IIRC -> China shuts down for about a week or so...)

    (Also found several pages back on the MSI (company) forum that someone else had a similar problem, (but it would respond to input again eventually) with an entirely different model several months back. No idea what happened with it as the OP just disappeared.)
     
    cutterjohn, Dec 10, 2008
    #2