Msi gx60 - live update 5

I installed "Live Update 5" onto my MSI GX60 laptop and it's caused major problems. It has basically completely crashed my Windows 8 operating system.


Problem: Can't boot back into Windows 8 Operating System

Error message: When booting into Windows 8 I get the following message:

>>Checking media presence.......
>>No media present.........

- My system then immediately opens up the BIOS

How the error occurred:

1. Downloaded and installed the MSI program "Live Update 5"
[live update 5 is driver update program]
2. I then open the program and clicked on scan for new drivers
3. A list of updated drivers appeared and I hit the download and install.
[I selected 4 new driver updates, Supercharger, MSI Suit,... not sure of the 2 others..]
4.Once the installation was complete I restarted back into Windows 8
5.I then opened up the "Live Update 5" program again and my system froze.
[Couldn't move the mouse cursor or hit alt+ctrl+del, to open the task manager]
6. After waiting for 5 minutes with no changes, I decided to hold down the power button on my laptop until the power switched off.
7..Upon rebooting...... ("Refer to Error message as mentioned above")

Tried the following with No Success:
1.Tried ruining the Windows 8, Automatic Repair - Didn't Work
2.Tried doing a system refresh - Didn't Work
3.Tried restoring Windows 8 to a previous working restore point - Didn't Work
[tried two different restore point, with no success]
4.Tried running CHKDSK, CHKDSK /f.........report said no bad errors...... - Didn't Work

I would appreciate any advice on restoring my system:

 

If CHKDSK actually ran (e.g. your drive was detected and scanned), then at least it's being detected. Does the Boot menu in BIOS show your hard drive listed as the first boot device?

 

Yes, I moved the hard drive boot to be first in the sequence, however it didn't solve the problem.

 

Live Update 5 is not intended for notebooks.

DISCLAIMER:
Live Update 5 utility is only intended for MSI Desktop PC related products (mainboards and graphics cards) usage. This utility doesn’t support any MSI Notebook (NB and Tablet PC) or AIO product, while installed might experience unexpected errors. If it happens that you have installed Live Update 5 on your Notebook or AIO system, please uninstall it then perform system restart.

MSI Global – Download Center

 

Yes, I unfortunately saw this disclaimer after the problem occurred. Lesson learned the hard way I guess. It pays to read before installing new programs.

I can not uninstall the MSI "Live Update 5" program as suggested in the disclaimer, as I have no access to my Windows 8 Operating System.

 

Do you have recovery media? If you can't access the OS - even through Safe Mode - you may need to recover or re-install (or go about a much more labyrinthine method using another OS or command prompt).

 

Disable UEFI BIOS if it helps. Or safe boot. Do a power drain.

 

Recovery Media:
MSI's laptops are not issued with a Windows 8 back up DVD. I simple have the Windows 8 OS on a partition on the hard drive.

Recovery options:
I have already attempted recovery with no success, - Refer to my 1st thread post

Reinstall:
This seems to be the most simple solution.
However there are a few problems with this method:
1. The Windows 8 OEM version requires a new activation code.
[ I Basically need to purchase a new license, which is a bit frustrating, considering I had my Laptop for 4 weeks ]
2. No Windows 8 DVD was provided with the laptop.
[ I am assuming, I need the WIndow 8 DVD to successfully complete a reinstall ]

Third Party OS:
The problem with installing a third party OS, is that it may alter the MSI firmware and hence void the 2 year MSI warranty.

Command Prompt:
I have tried solutions within MS command prompt.
1.Run ScanDisk with no success.
2.Accessing and operating Microsoft Notepad
[ I successfully open notepad by typing in c:notepad. I then accessed the file menu and went to File -> Open. I found the directory of 'Live Update 5' and attempted to delete it manually with no success. I was able to transfer files, but not delete them.]
No sure of any other methods in command prompt. Any suggestions?

 

I described my problem to MSI technical support. They instructed me that this problem is covered under warranty and not mess around with too much.

They have organized a courier to pick my Laptop and send it off for repair at one of their Centers.

 

have you try press F3 to do system reset instead of system refresh?

 

Odd, the MSI laptops we ship out come with the MSI factory recovery. You can also purchase additional/replacement recovery discs from them for $15 or so, if I remember correctly.

Saw it. I was still harping on about the MSI recovery. Too bad you don't have that though.

I was referring to using disk part. If MSI already agreed to take care of you though, I would suggest leaving it in their hands.

 

Because my system is covered under warranty, I decided to let MSI deal with the problem. Rather then attempt further troubleshooting myself.
Today I sent my GX60 Laptop back to the MSI technical center.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Hopefully this thread can help some else in the future.

 

MSI GX60 Laptop Back From The Service Center:

The MSI report mentioned, they :

1. Replaced the Mainboard
[ I'm assuming this is the motherboard?]
2. Installation Window 8 OS.
[ I'm assuming this is a new Windows OS, considering MSI changed the mainboard ]

However, upon booting, I noticed some differences to the default setup of my previous (per-repair) GX60 Notebook.

They are the following issues, that somewhat annoy me:

1.Bigfoot Boot Agent installation
[ This Bios application, seems to have taken over my standard Bios options. I don't seem to have the previous options of pressing F3 or Del.
Can anybody suggestion how to disable this?
Does anybody know why MSI have used this program? ]

2. The MSI splash screen, has a bigger MSI logo than previously
[ The size of the logo isn't an issue, however the size differences suggests the MSI firmware hasn't been installed correctly]

Any ideas on the above issues?

 

About second issue. There is a setting in BIOS called "Full screen MSI logo" but you can not see it. It is hied. You can try to load default or failsafe settings or update BIOS and firmware yourself but this time with W8 bios and firmware.
I am not sure I understood 1st problem though.

 

Upon boot up press “Shift + F10” to enter Bigfoot Boot Agent configuration, then under the configuration menu, change the SHOW CONFIG MESSAGE --> Disable. Press F4 to save and exit. Upon the next boot up, you will not see the display message again.

Source: MSI Global – FAQ

And yes, mainboard = motherboard. Windows 8 installation was because they put a new board in, so even if they put the same hard drive back in, protocol is to do a fresh install since there is a new[ish] BIOS chip.

Not sure I understand the second problem, though. It may just be an updated BIOS.

 

I followed the above instructions:

Disabling the "Show config message" within the Bigfoot Boot Agent does simple that. It literately removes the "Shift + F10" text from the boot and theoretically gives you a faster boot.
However, the problem still stands, I don't have the options of pressing F3 for the Windows UEFI or pressing del for the BIOS.

[ I found my problem addressed in another forum, however it seems the problem wasn't resolved.. http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=159779.0 ]

 

Since MSI made the change, give their support a call. They should be able to resolve it over the phone, assuming nothing is actually "wrong" (which it doesn't sound like there is, per se).

 

Called up MSI Technical Support earlier today and spoke to their support engineer regarding the following:

Custom Bios - Bigfoot Boot Agent:

I was told the "Bigfoot Boot Agent" now comes default with newer mainboard's. The implication is customers no longer have the option of messing around with their BIOS.

However, I was given a bootable UEFI file, just in-case I need to access the Windows 8 UEFI.


Windows 8 Activation Issues:

At the moment I'm having Windows 8 activation issues because of the New mainboard installation on my GX60 Laptop. Hopefully, I can sort out this issue tomorrow with Microsoft.