What We Know for Sure:
1. If you don’t open NZXT CAM → Restart works fine.
2. If you open NZXT CAM, even once → Restart fails (Post Code 0D).
3. Even if you close the app before restarting → Restart still fails.
4. Cold boot (shutdown + power cycle) always works fine.
Why This Happens
1. These apps communicate with the EC (Embedded Controller) to pull system data (voltages, temps, fan speeds, RGB).
2. Once the EC is “polled” or written to, something in its memory/firmware does not reset properly when restarting.
3. Even closing the app doesn’t fix it, because the EC is already in a bad state until the system fully powers off.
4. Cold boot (shutdown + power cycle) clears the EC, making the system work again.
What Can You Do? (Workarounds)
1. Avoid opening system monitoring or RGB apps unless necessary.
2. If you open any of these apps, always do a full Shutdown instead of Restart.
3. Test disabling EC polling in HWiNFO (Settings → Uncheck “EC Support”).
4. Try OpenRGB instead of G.SKILL’s RGB software (which may not trigger the bug).
5. Wait for MSI to release a new BIOS update to fix EC handling on restarts.
What You CANNOT Fix Right Now
• Since this is a BIOS/EC firmware issue, no Windows setting or app tweak will fully solve it.
• The issue will persist until MSI releases a BIOS update with a fix.
Final Conclusion:
It’s not your fault. It’s MSI’s BIOS (A24) issue with EC handling or NZXT CAM support.
No point in troubleshooting further. The only fix is a BIOS update.
For now, just use Shutdown instead of Restart when any system monitoring or RGB app has been opened.
