BIOS 3.30 Causes shutdown hang under certain configs

[Redstorm]

When I updated my system to version 3.30, my system now hangs on shutdown at a blank screen and i have to use the reset button to clear the condition.

First of all a bit of background on my configuration, I have 2 36G WD raptors on the nforce ports 1 & 3 mirrored for data redundancy, I am using ports 1 & 3 so each disk has its on its own seprate controller for access (Duplexed configuration).

I have been doing some investigation and have found that.

3.10 = OK
3.20 = OK

Both of these BIOS 's have version 4.81 of the RAID firmware.

3.30 = Not OK with this disk configuration, The RAID firmware in 3.30 has been updated to 4.84 and causes my system to hang on a blank screen on shutdown, Like it is unable to fully commit the disk cache or something.

If I split my array and just boot of a single disk I have no issue at all with the shutdown.

It looks like under the mirrored configuration this shutdown hang occurs, can anyone else confirm that this is the case with thier config.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Good thing you told me, as I have that same board

 

[LuckMan212]

same problem here... .MSI bios have been sucking lately.
get your act together please MSI

 

[mylok]

i have the same problem with the new BIOS. I have 2 WD 200GB SATA drives in a raid 0 setup and windows xp hangs evertime i shutdown or restart.

 

[LuckMan212]

does anyone NOT have this problem?

 

[us3rnotfound]

so this is just for those with a raid config?

 

[LuckMan212]

uhm I guess so but that's like almost everyone these days

 

[mylok]

i emailed MSI about this and they sent me a new bios v3.46 but i still have the same problem. please report this to MSI if you have this problem as they were not aware of any shutdown problems.

i am back to using v3.1 and it works fine now. i have a DC 4400 on order and assume you need the updated bios for it to work correctly?

 

[LuckMan212]

I dont think you need the new bios for it to boot but it wont show the correct CPU name during POST etc. I could be wrong maybe you do need at least 3.30

that sucks to hear that v3.46 doesnt fix it.
can you please post this BIOS somewhere so we can try it as well and see if it maybe works for us? (doubt it would) and also tell us who emailed it to you, so maybe other Neo4 owners with the problem can confirm to them that its a real problem so they take it seriously...

 

[mylok]

sorry the email it was attached to stated i could not upload it. email did not contain a contact name just tech support div.

does anyone use the SIL raid controller? is it as fast as the nvidia raid? and does it work with the latest bios (3.3)?

 

[headaches]

They know about this problem. Its all over their own board. It took them an week to answer my e-mail........I will never buy an MSI anything ever again. I can not believe they would release a bios so negligently. I don't want to be a beta tester.

Good luck guys.

 

[LuckMan212]

well this sucks, I am starting to really regret buying this MSI
I needed a nForce4 SLI mobo with 3 PCI slots and MSI was one of the only major players making one. Anyone know of another that is also a decent overclocker? I am getting sick of MSI ignoring its customers....

 

[headaches]

Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe No experience with it though.

 

[LuckMan212]

I remember in the Anandtech reveiew the A8N-SLI did poorly on the overclocking tests. Do you know if the board has been through any revisions that allow halfway decent overclocks? (around 270 HTT is what I am looking for)

 

[mylok]

i had an ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe before the MSI board and I prefer the MSI board (the MSI is more stable in my opinion). i just hope they can get their act together and release a new bios that works.

is there a site for beta MSI bios beta releases? (the latest one on the web is v3.3 but the tech guy sent me 3.46)

 

[LuckMan212]

well over HERE on the MSI forum I see that they are up to 3.51. Problem still not fixed.

 

[mylok]

yes this is BS, after checking the MSI forums it appears they were aware of this problem before it was released (while 3.3 was in beta).

 

[LuckMan212]

i think a hacked up BIOS combining the 3.3 msi code with the Nvraid 4.81 BIOS would work well, but Neither CBROM nor AwardMod seems to work on these BIOSes. Is there a newer tool for modifying AWARD bios'es?

 

[LuckMan212]

ok I have an update on this for the adventurous types...
over on the MSI forum:

MODDED MSI K8N Neo4 BIOSes

I made these myself, read the full post before you try them....

 

[mylok]

i dont have a bios savior either so i will have to wait to try it until some other brave souls test it.

 

[LuckMan212]

I have sent a PM to someone who I know has a savior so hopefully they will try it soon and let us all know if it is safe

 

[LuckMan212]

good news looks like these BIOS are having good success. I am about to do my final test but initial reports are good...

 

[Deadalus]

The 3.30 has done more than cause a shutdown problem on my PC... It will no-longer boot up! Not even to the point where I can restore a previous BIOS.

It worked for a while, even after a restart, but after turning off my PC completly, it now won't turn back on!

I have tested all the components in the System (except the CPU, as I don't have another compatibe MOBO to hand). However, I refuse to believe this happening after the BIOS upgrade was a coincidence, considering similar problems other people are having.

I have ordered an ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe to replace the MSI, and I will be returning it for a refund/replacement. If I get a replacement, it will end up on eBay...

I am not happy with MSI at all!

BTW, incase you are wondering why I got the ASUS, it is for 2 reasons:

1 - I don't overclock - so not a concern for me.
2 - I need 3x PCI slots.