Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets, | MSI HQ User-to-User FAQ

How do I turn on the webcam?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:12:58 +0100

Before you can use your webcam, you must first TURN IT ON.

Depending on your notebook, there is either a keypress combination (eg Fn+F6 on Wind U100) or there is a dedicated button which will do this.

Please refer to the user manual provided with your notebook for how to do this. If you have lost or discarded your manual, you can download it from the MSI website.

Which wireless card do I have?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:21:25 +0100

You can identify your wireless module from the sticker on the base of your notebook. Please refer to the attached file for how to identify your wireless module.

Battery advice

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:23:58 +0100

If you want to use your laptop battery as long as possible, then use this guideline:

1: First time usage, do not start the notebook right away, but charge the battery FULL before turning the machine on.

2: Never ever drain the battery totally, best recharge before 10% is reached or when ever you can.

3: Do not put the laptop in the Sun or use it at very HOT places, high temps reduce the lifetime greatly.

4: Do NOT store your battery for longer periods of time, best recharge every few weeks or keep it recharged.

I advise to keep it in the laptop, although some prefer doing AC without, however it must be kept charged always! (inserted does that).

5: Do NOT pressure the battery to maximum current levels, Lithium-Ion do not handle that well, this means overclocking and gaming on batteries.

No matter if it's called a gaming laptop, game on AC, at all times.

If you want to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery

Also this is a must read: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lithium-ion-battery.htm

I suggest you read it as these batteries can be killed quite easily if you use them the wrong way.

If somebody tell you to drain it totally empty, then they don't know what they are talking about and you are well on your way to kill it.

A well handled Lithium-Ion battery lasts minimal 3 years (but will die after time), no matter if you use it or not, but when misused it can be over in days.

Battery LED is blinking orange

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:28:00 +0100

This indicates there is a problem with the battery. If it is still under warranty, you can contact your reseller or MSI and ask for it to be replaced under warranty. If the battery is out of warranty, unfortunately you'll have to purchase a new one.

While plugged into AC power, battery status is "97%, not charging"

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:31:55 +0100

This is normal behaviour. Once fully charged, the notebook will stop charging the battery. Once the battery level reaches 95%, the battery will be charged again. This prevents the battery from being damaged from being constantly charged, and slightly reduces power consumption while plugged into the mains.

Which touchpad is in my notebook?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:33:32 +0100

Please tap the sensitive area on the upper right corner and lower right corner of touchpad, if the scroll bar can slide normally, then the vendor is Sentelic. The other vendor is Synaptics, if you want to use the function of scroll bar, which scrolls by sliding your finger up and down the right of the touchpad, please use the Synaptics driver.

Sentelic driver

For added functionality for Sentelic touchpads, download the driver from here:
http://eu.msi.com/service/download/nbdriver-16110.html

Synaptics driver

For added functionality for Synaptics touchpads, download the driver from here:
http://eu.msi.com/service/download/nbdriver-14973.html

Elantech driver

http://eu.msi.com/service/download/nbdriver-14974.html

How to check ATI vBIOS version for my MSI Notebook

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:54:03 +0100

Download and Run GPU-Z ==> http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2092/TechPowerUp GPU-Z v0.5.8.html

Click on the icon:

Select "Save to file", and save the VBIOS to some location and remember it.

Then download and run RBE: http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1962/TechPowerUp_Radeon_Bios_Editor_v1.28.html

And load the saved VBIOS file, then check for version at those places:

How to recover your notebook

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 13:41:21 +0200

In the event that your notebook's operating system becomes corrupted, or unusable because of virus/malware infection, you can perform a 'recovery' of the operating system to the state in which you received your notebook.

Refer to the attached PDF file for how to use the MSI Recovery software.

ERROR: "The recovery environment is not normal"
Ensure your C: partition is named OS_Install

'BIOS_RVY' partition
This hidden partition contains the data required to restore your notebook's operating system to the factory state. If this partition is removed, then the F3 hotkey recovery will no longer function, and you will have to use the Recovery DVDs (either supplied with the notebook, or created yourself using the BurnRecovery software) to restore your notebook.

Does my notebook have Bluetooth?

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:36:18 +0200

Bluetooth is an optional feature on most notebooks. If it won't turn on, or drivers won't install, then check the spec sticker on the box to make sure that your notebook actually comes with bluetooth hardware, as if it doesn't then nothing you do will ever make it work!

This sticker shows that this notebook comes with Bluetooth hardware. If 'BT EDR' is not listed here, then it is not included.

There will also, like for the wireless, be a silver sticker on the base of the unit, which tells you which Bluetooth module is installed. Again, if you see no sticker like this, then there is no Bluetooth inside.

How do I turn on the Bluetooth?

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:36:58 +0200

As with the webcam, there will be a keypress combination, or a dedicated button, which will turn the Bluetooth on and off. Again, please refer to the User Manual provided with your notebook for how to do this, or download it from the MSI website.

How to reset the EC (Embedded Controller)

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:02:30 +0200

DO NOT FLASH YOUR NOTEBOOK UNLESS YOU REALLY HAVE TO!!!!
Lots of people already had to RMA their laptop because of a badflash or wrong flash.
Be warned, do NOT flash because you want to....only if you really NEED to flash to fix something.

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.

The new BIOS should work properly now.
This procedure resets the Embedded Controller (EC), so best been done as described.
(MSI Europe informed me about the need for this procedure)

If you have been directed to this thread because you have been asked to perform a EC reset,
note that we're not asking you to flash your BIOS, just perform the EC reset.

Reinstalling Windows when recovery fails

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:47:26 +0200

There may be a number of situations where you need to recover your notebook, but recovery fails.

1) If you have accidentally (or intentionally) removed the hidden BIOS_RVY partition from your notebook's hard drive.
2) Your hard drive has been corrupted, and the BIOS_RVY partition is damaged.
3) You have replaced the hard drive because it has failed.
4) You have not created, or lost, any recovery CD/DVD that was either supplied with your notebook, or were prompted to create using the MSI BurnRecovery software included with your notebook.

MSI (as well as other notebook manufacturers) does not supply complete Windows discs with their notebooks, but as long as you have a genuine Product Key license sticker (which is usually applied to the base of your notebook) it is not so difficult to get around this.

First of all, identify the version of Windows that your Product Key is applicable for. Just look at the sticker, and it is printed on there, for example 'Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit'.

Your Product Key is only valid for that particular version of Windows. You cannot use a 'Windows 7 Home Premium' key to install Windows 7 Ultimate edition.

Secondly, you need to get hold of a Windows disc. You can either borrow one from a friend, or colleague, or you can download an ISO disc image file using a torrent file, or other source, for example MSDN TechNet. We will not provide any direct torrent links to ISO images in this forum, you will have to seek your own, but beware of 'cracked', modified or other rogue files. This forum does NOT condone the use of illegal or otherwise illegally modified Windows software.

Some links to 'official' Windows 7 ISO images can be found here:

7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads

These are 'clean', uncracked versions, and will only work with genuine product keys.

For Windows XP and Vista, you will have to find your own.

Thirdly, it is simply a case of booting from this disc (note that for downloaded ISOs, you will either need to burn them to CD/DVD using disc burning software such as Nero Burning ROM or any other alternative, or to make a bootable USB flash drive) and then following the prompts to install Windows on your notebook.

Finally, if you have not done so already, you can download and install any required drivers for your notebook, from your notebook's Product Page on the MSI website.

Windows 'Anytime Upgrade'
If you took advantage of the Anytime Upgrade option to upgrade your Windows version, please note that your Product Key on your notebook is still only valid for that version. You cannot use the Anytime Upgrade product key to do a new clean install with that version.

For example, if you purchased a netbook which came with Windows 7 Starter Edition (for which your Product Key is for), and then later purchased (or received a free upgrade to) Windows 7 Home Premium, you must first install Windows 7 Starter Edition, and then carry out the Anytime Upgrade, using the product key you were given for that purpose. You cannot clean install Windows 7 Home Premium using the Anytime Upgrade key.

Windows Activation
Even if your Product Key is validated during install, and Windows installs successfully, you may find that Windows Activation will fail. This is normal, as your Product Key provided with your notebook is an OEM key, and your original bundled version of Windows is designed to be 'pre-activated'. However, it is not an issue to use the 'Activate Windows by telephone' option, where you call an automated system (usually a 'freephone' number) and follow the prompts accordingly, where Windows should successfully activate.

You should avoid using any illegal softwares to bypass or 'crack' Windows activation, as these crack files normally contain viruses and/or other malwares. As long as you use your Genuine Windows product key, and the correct version of Windows for that key, you should not encounter any difficulties with activation.

Using a different version of Windows, to that which was supplied with your notebook
Simply put, if you want to use any other version of Windows, you will have to purchase a new version of Windows. For instance, if your notebook was supplied with Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit, and you want to use Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, you will have to purchase it.

Bluetooth drivers for Windpad 110W won't install on Windows 8 Preview

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:40:15 +0100

Thanks to Pox67 for this one.

To install the Bluetooth drivers for Windpad 110W under Windows 8 Preview, you need to do the following:

1. Download the Azurewave Combo Card_NB037 drivers from the MSI website.
2. Extract the files using 7zip, WinZIP or similar.
3. In the BT folder, use your ZIP program to extract the contents of the Bluetooth_Suite_win7.exe. (this program is a self-extracting executable).
4. Run the relevant win732 or win764 exe, depending on which version of Windows 8 you have installed.

Why didn't my notebook come with Windows, only FreeDOS?

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:13:39 +0200

While in most markets around the world, MSI's notebooks are supplied with Windows pre-installed, there are some market areas where MSI does not provide Windows with their notebooks.

There are a number of reasons for this:

it reduces the wholesale cost of the notebook.
it allows resellers and distributors to install their own localised version of Windows for languages that MSI HQ do not use (or understand).
it gives end-users the choice to purchase and install the version of Windows they choose, or use an existing Windows licence they may have. Or install Linux.

Either way, if you purchase a MSI notebook that does not come with Windows pre-installed, only 'FreeDOS', then it is YOUR responsibility to purchase or use an existing valid legal licence for Windows and install it yourself. Alternatively, for an additional cost, you can ask your reseller if they can provide the notebook with Windows pre-installed.

If your reseller didn't make it clear enough in their advert that no operating system was provided, and you are not happy with your product as a result, then that becomes a matter for you to take up with your reseller, not MSI.

I am having internet connection issues on my GT60/GT70

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:50:55 +0200

There are known connection issues (MSN Messenger, Game for Windows, Itunes and others) with the onboard Killer E2200 Lan on GT60/GT70 on non-English Windows versions.

This is caused by an old Killer Network Manager version. This may also cause issues on Wireless LAN connections.

The new Killer E2200 driver v6.1.0.395 should solve this.

Download it here:

Make sure you uninstall the old Killer driver and application before installing the new.