Hey everyone, I'm really stuck with my MSI GL65 10SFK. The laptop boots up perfectly and can handle games really well, but it has this frustrating habit of randomly freezing during use. In System Information, I noticed that the Embedded Controller version shows 255.255, which feels like a big red flag.
Here's what I've done so far:
1. I've updated the BIOS several times using both the BIOS built-in M-Flash utility and the Windows tool, but while the BIOS shows the correct version, the EC version remains at 255.255. According to MSI's support site, my BIOS should be up-to-date.
2. I've executed hard resets more times than I can count, holding the power button for 60 seconds while having the AC and battery removed. No luck.
3. I found and used the EC reset pinhole with a paperclip for over 5 seconds, but that didn't change anything.
The strange part is, even though it crashes, it's not entirely dead—like I can play demanding games for a while without issues. It doesn't seem to be overheating either, as I've kept an eye on the temperatures. It's really acting like a ticking time bomb.
I suspect that the EC firmware might be corrupt, preventing normal updates, which could explain the instability.
Has anyone else encountered this specific scenario where the BIOS is functional, the system runs to some extent, but the EC is stuck at 255.255 and causes issues? I'd really appreciate any insights before I consider repairs, especially since I'm in a tough situation financially and rely on this laptop for school.
3 Answers
Hey! Do your laptop's fans get really loud just before it crashes? That might be an indication of overheating or some thermal issues leading to a shutdown. Just a thought!
Have you tried downgrading the BIOS? Sometimes aligning the BIOS and EC firmware can help avoid these issues. Just make sure you follow the correct steps if you decide to go that route!
It happened before I updated the BIOS, so I thought the update might fix it, but no luck.
You should check the event logs before the crashes. Are you getting a BSOD, or is it just freezing? It might give you more insight into what’s going wrong.
There's no BSOD and I'm not sure about the event logs.
Sometimes, yes, and sometimes they don’t. It's pretty random!