MSI responds regarding BIOS 1.8:
"Dear Customer,
We have not encountered any issues with updating bios to version 1.8 and losing sound if can please flash back down to your original bios version but if have updated driver as well also please try updating the NVIDIA system drivers for the chipset also if can try another installation of windows it maybe considering the bios update as a major upgrade and having an issue with the sound driver Thanks
Technical Support Division
MSI Computer Corp.
------------------------------------------
MSI Platinum Series Motherboards -- In Pursuit of Quality Perfection.
1.626.913.0828
1.626.581.7721 Fax"
I have written back:
"Short of flashing back down to BIOS version 1.4, I have tried again to update the nVidia chipset drivers (6.66), the Realtek AC '97 CODEC drivers (A3.76) and did another repair install of Windows. "Multimedia Audio Controller," the onboard sound device, is still not listed in "Device Manager." Without it being recognized, I am sure the Realtek drivers will not install. You seem to be saying the "Multimedia Audio Controller," is listed in Device Manager and working with the Realtek drivers, using BIOS 1.8 on your test bed computer with the K8N Neo4 Platinum (MS-7125). And, is your test bed using WinXP Pro SP2? If true, why would rollback of the BIOS fix my issue? And, why would you recommend rolling back to BIOS version 1.4 when there are also versions 1.5 and 1.6 between it and 1.8? Are there similar issues with these versions? If you can duplicate my problem in your lab, then BIOS 1.8 will have to be pulled and replaced by a BIOS 1.9, correct? Thanks."
MSI responds:
"Dear Customer,
As stated have ran across this issue but if the device is not seem by windows then would indicate is bad but first check if bios is detecting it on boot up check the PCI device listing just before system starts booting from hard drive if do not see the Multimedia device there then would seem to have gone bad but you can verify but flashing back down to any of the previous board bios may have thought you had 1.7 and were going to flash back to it but please do try version 1.7 as stated their have been no reports of this issue before just yours as of now but please do try if same then you would need to send the board in under a RMA so it can be repaired or replaced Thanks"
Budman, in the link you provided, no one mentions my issue or any problem with USB. Perhaps, you read about USB issues on another thread? Regardless, you may be correct regarding a USB issue. I found my 4 back board USB ports to not be Hi-Speed USB 2.0. The board specs say they should be. However, I am unable to tell you if they were USB 2.0 when I was using the board with BIOS 1.4. That is because my OS was still at base level when I flashed to 1.8 and a minimum of SP1 is required to enable the ports to work at the Hi-Speed specification. I can, however, tell you the D-Bracket did recognize the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 drivers once I got SP2 reinstalled and are working correctly. I have a USB hard drive that sends up a balloon message in the system tray if it is not connected to a Hi-Speed port. The only real bug mentioned in the link was regarding a "Shutdown Bug." This may be a flaw in BIOS 1.8, but I cannot confirm it. In my case, I installed a new program last night and upon restarting the computer, it hung at the screen "Windows is shutting down...." I had to use the computer's reset button to get beyond it, but it did not cause Checkdisk to initiate due to an improper shutdown of Windows. I found this hang to be repeatable. I then uninstalled the program and did a complete shutdown of the system via Windows. Shutdown was normal. On the next startup, I did a Restart and it was normal again. So, was it caused by the new program or the BIOS. Another mystery. I have done several reboots since with no hangs. Thanks for the tip on WinFlash. I'll give it a try. --Thanks.
My response to MSI:
"On the third screen during bootup, I checked the PCI Device Listings and it does reflect a "Multimedia Device" using IRQ 11. That line also said Bus #1, Device #7, Func#1, Vendor/Device# 1102/0002 and Class #0401, if that is of any help to you. The Mass Storage Cntrlr, Serial Bus Cntrlr, RAID Cntrlr and Network Cntrlr were also on IRQ 11. However, I still do not have "Multimedia Audio Device" listed in Device Manager and there are no IRQ conflicts with any of the devices listed. I have attached a photo of my Device Manager to see if it can provide any clue for you with my problem. There is no BIOS version 1.7 offered on your web site:
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/bios/bos/spt_bos_detail.php?UID=637&kind=1! Perhaps you mean for me to try BIOS 1.6? Thanks."
MSI's response:
"Dear Customer,
Sorry you are right it is Bios version 1.6 please do flash to it and see if sound device is detected again but if is not detected is bad. Also if you have not try flashing bios again and right after flash shut down and clear CMOS make sure that you unplug power cord form power supply when clear then see if sound is there Thanks"
My response:
"Well, it does appear my hardware is working just fine now that I have downgraded to BIOS 1.6. Windows found the new hardware, "Realtek AC '97 Audio" device and installed it on my initial boot up with BIOS 1.6. It also installed the MSI Sound Manager icon into the system tray automatically. I simply reinstalled the driver, A3.76, and sound has been perfect ever since I rebooted out of the setup program. It is quite clear to me BIOS 1.8 is not ready for prime time! I recommend you pull it off your web site right away. In addition to the sound issue, I found the four back board USB connectors stopped providing Hi-Speed USB 2.0 speed! I was able to verify this using a USB hard drive which gives a balloon message in the system tray whenever it is not connected to a Hi-Speed port. Also, while you are at it, check the BIOS 1.8 out for some sort of "shutdown" bug. I read another forum message where someone was experiencing this and so was I. Specifically, it occurred following the routine installation of software where a reboot was required once setup finished. The restart hung on the page "Windows is now closing...." To recover from this required the use of the computer's reset button. I found the computer hung on subsequent multiple restarts. So, I uninstalled the program and shutdown the computer from Windows. This went smoothly. Subsequent reboots worked fine, but I think this is probably BIOS related and you should do further testing to come up with a BIOS 1.9. Regards."
Well guys, the bottom line is that BIOS 1.8 is FUBAR!!! Budman, thanks for the tip again on using Winflash. I used it to downgrade to BIOS 1.6 and it went very smoothly.