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For an MSI Claw that already includes Windows, connect the charger, complete Windows setup, join Wi‑Fi, then open MSI Center M and run News and Updates > Scan. Install the offered Claw drivers and BIOS firmware, observing any model-specific order notice. Windows updates come separately from Settings > Windows Update.
You do not normally need to reinstall Windows on a Claw that shipped with it. Manual installation is intended for FreeDOS units or a deliberate clean reinstall.
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Identify your Claw’s starting state first
The correct procedure depends on whether Windows is already installed and on the exact Claw model and region. BIOS and driver packages are not interchangeable simply because two devices carry the Claw name.
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| What you see when you power on | Use this path | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Windows setup screens or the Windows desktop | Complete Windows setup, connect Wi‑Fi, update through MSI Center M, then run Windows Update | Charger and a reliable Wi‑Fi connection |
| FreeDOS or no installed Windows | Install Windows manually, then use MSI One Touch Install and Windows Update | Windows installation media, a USB‑C dock rated for at least 65 W power delivery, external keyboard and mouse |
| You need a BIOS file or driver manually | Open MSI’s support downloads, select the exact model and regional site, and match every package | Exact model designation and a stable power connection |
Check the model label, box, or the model information shown in MSI Center M before downloading anything. MSI’s global downloads portal lets you search for the handheld product line, but the regional support page and model entry determine which files and warnings apply.
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Set up a Claw that shipped with Windows
- Connect the power cord. MSI’s Claw Walkthrough instructs you to connect the device to its power cord before first activation. Keep it powered during setup and firmware work.
- Start the device. Lightly press the power button. If the screen does not respond, verify the charger connection and allow the device a short period on external power before trying again.
- Complete Windows’ first-run screens. Select the requested region and language, connect to a network when prompted, and sign in or create the account required by your Windows edition. Let each setup stage finish instead of forcing a shutdown.
- Connect to Wi‑Fi if setup did not do so. From the Windows desktop, you can use the network control, or select the Wi‑Fi control on the MSI Center M home page as shown in MSI’s walkthrough.
- Allow the desktop to settle. After the first login, leave the Claw connected to power while Windows completes background device detection. A restart may be requested before MSI Center M shows every available update.
At this point the Claw is usable. The next step is to install MSI’s device-specific software before treating Windows Update as the only update source.
Update Claw drivers and BIOS through MSI Center M
MSI documents MSI Center M as the routine route for Claw drivers and BIOS firmware. Press the physical MSI button, or open MSI Center M from the Windows system tray, then follow this path:
- Open MSI Center M.
- Choose News and Updates.
- Select Scan.
- Review the returned packages and confirm that they identify your exact Claw model.
- Install the offered drivers, firmware, and BIOS updates. Keep the charger connected, maintain a stable network, and do not close MSI Center M while an update is running.
- Restart when MSI Center M requests it. Some updates appear only after the restart and a second scan.
The process and menu names are described in MSI’s Claw gaming settings and update FAQ. If the scan reports no updates, that means MSI Center M found none for the installed model and software state; it does not justify installing a BIOS from another Claw page.
Check the required order before installing BIOS
BIOS sequencing can be model- and release-specific. MSI’s notice for MSI Center M version 2.0.2509.1201 covers the listed Claw A1M, Claw 7 AI+, Claw 8 AI+, and Claw A8 models and requires MSI Center M to be updated before the BIOS. The notice warns that installing the BIOS first may cause Quick Settings to malfunction. Read the current notice for your exact model before selecting a BIOS package; the affected models and order can change as releases change.
Use MSI’s MSI Center M update notice as the authoritative release-specific instruction. If it says to update MSI Center M first, complete that update, restart if requested, reopen the app, and only then apply the BIOS update.
Understand what each update channel does
MSI Center M and Windows Update are complementary, not duplicate buttons. MSI Center M is the documented Claw path for MSI-specific BIOS firmware, device drivers, firmware components, and utilities. Windows Update supplies Microsoft operating-system updates, security fixes, feature updates, and any hardware packages Microsoft distributes for the installed Windows build.
That is why a Claw can show “up to date” in one place while the other still offers packages. Finish the MSI Center M scan first, restart as requested, and then run Windows Update. After either channel installs a low-level driver or firmware component, a second scan can reveal follow-up packages that were not applicable before the restart.
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Run Windows Update separately
MSI Center M handles MSI’s Claw packages; Windows Update is a separate Windows maintenance path. On a working Windows installation:
- Open Settings.
- Select Windows Update (on some Windows builds this is under Windows Update in the left navigation).
- Choose Check for updates.
- Install available quality, feature, security, and hardware updates.
- Restart when requested and check again until Windows reports that no further updates are available.
It is normal for Windows Update and MSI Center M to offer different packages. Windows Update supplies Microsoft’s operating-system updates; MSI Center M supplies Claw-specific firmware, drivers, and utilities. Run both channels rather than substituting one for the other.
Enter BIOS Setup on an MSI Claw
The Claw has no built-in physical keyboard, so do not assume a notebook’s usual Delete or F2 shortcut applies. MSI’s procedure is:
- Shut down the Claw completely.
- Press the power button.
- When the MSI logo appears, press and hold RB + RT (the right bumper and right trigger).
- Keep holding until BIOS Setup opens, then release the controls.
MSI states, “Pressing RB+RT on your device will bring you to the BIOS settings,” in its Claw Walkthrough. The same procedure is documented in the MSI FAQ for entering BIOS settings on Claw. If Windows starts normally, shut down and try again; pressing the combination after the logo has already disappeared is too late.
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- Use BIOS only for a setting or firmware operation you understand. Record any custom settings before changing them.
- Do not interrupt a BIOS flash. Keep AC power connected and avoid pressing buttons, closing the lid or cover, or forcing a restart while the progress screen is active.
- After a successful update, allow the automatic restart. Windows may take longer than usual on the first boot while hardware is re-initialized.
Choose BIOS and driver files safely
Manual downloads are useful when MSI Center M cannot complete an update or when you need a specific package, but model matching is essential.
- Open MSI Global downloads or your regional MSI support site.
- Search for the complete Claw model name, including its generation or suffix.
- Open the model’s support page and select the appropriate operating-system category.
- Read the release notes, prerequisites, warnings, and installation order before downloading.
- Compare the package’s model designation with the name on your Claw. Do not use a file merely because it appears under another Claw model.
- Download from MSI’s support domain, retain the release notes, and follow MSI’s included installation instructions.
Regional pages can carry different files or warnings. A BIOS listing shown on one country site is not proof that it is the latest or correct release elsewhere. MSI’s update notice may also require a particular MSI Center M version first. Avoid unverified third-party driver sites and BIOS mirrors: a mismatched firmware image can leave the handheld unable to boot.
When to use a manual download instead of MSI Center M
Use the support page when MSI Center M cannot complete a package, when you need to inspect release notes before approving an update, or when MSI explicitly directs you to a particular installer. First identify the full model and region, then compare the support-page listing with the model shown on the device. Download only the package that matches both the hardware and the required operating-system category.
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Do not treat a newer-looking file name as automatically better. A regional listing can have a different release or warning, and the version number alone does not establish compatibility. If MSI Center M offers a package for your model, that in-app result is normally safer than guessing among manual downloads.
Installing Windows manually on a FreeDOS Claw
MSI’s manual Windows procedure is for MSI computers and handhelds that shipped without Windows, such as FreeDOS units, or for an intentional clean reinstall. It is not a required first step for a Claw that already arrived with Windows.
Prepare the installation hardware
- Use a USB‑C docking station rated for at least 65 W power delivery. The dock is MSI’s recommendation for this installation scenario so the handheld can receive power while peripherals are attached.
- Connect an external keyboard and mouse. They make Windows setup and driver installation practical when the handheld controls are not yet fully configured.
- Prepare legitimate Windows installation media that matches the license and edition intended for the device. Keep the charger or dock connected throughout installation.
- Back up any files on the target storage first. A clean installation can erase existing partitions and data.
Install Windows and establish the MSI environment
- Connect the dock, power, keyboard, mouse, and Windows installation media.
- Boot from the Windows media and follow the installer’s prompts for language, region, keyboard layout, storage target, and account setup.
- When Windows reaches the desktop, connect to the internet.
- Run MSI One Touch Install to install the required MSI drivers and applications. MSI recommends this step before additional Windows updates so the system starts with MSI-tested drivers and applications.
- Restart when One Touch Install requests it.
- Open Settings > Windows Update, choose Check for updates, install everything offered, and restart as needed.
- Repeat the Windows Update check until the system reports that it is fully up to date.
The complete FreeDOS guidance is in MSI’s FAQ for installing Windows on an MSI laptop or handheld. The 65 W dock recommendation is specific to this manual-install setup; routine MSI Center M and Windows updates on a working preinstalled Claw do not require a dock.
What the 65 W dock recommendation means
The 65 W figure applies to the dock’s power-delivery rating for the manual installation scenario. It is not a statement that every Claw owner must purchase a dock. A preinstalled Windows Claw can be set up and updated with its normal charger, Wi‑Fi, and built-in controls. The dock becomes useful when a FreeDOS installation needs simultaneous power, Windows installation media, and external keyboard and mouse connections.
Troubleshoot common setup and update problems
MSI Center M cannot find updates
- Confirm that Wi‑Fi is connected and that Windows can open a normal web page.
- Restart the Claw, reopen MSI Center M, and run News and Updates > Scan again.
- Check that MSI Center M itself is current if an update notice requires a newer version before BIOS installation.
- Use the exact-model MSI support page for a manual download only after confirming the model and region.
The BIOS update is blocked or the order warning appears
Stop and read the current model-specific notice. If it requires MSI Center M first, update MSI Center M, restart, and rescan. Do not bypass the warning by launching a BIOS installer from another model’s page.
Quick Settings stops working after an update
MSI’s release notice specifically warns that installing BIOS before the required MSI Center M version may cause Quick Settings to malfunction on the models covered by that notice. Recheck the notice, bring MSI Center M to the required version, restart, and follow MSI’s recovery instructions for the exact model. Do not repeatedly flash unrelated BIOS files.
The Claw will not enter BIOS
- Use a full shutdown rather than restarting from Windows.
- Press the power button, wait for the MSI logo, then hold RB + RT together.
- If Windows still loads, try again from a powered state and make sure the controls are being held before the logo disappears.
Windows setup has no usable input or network
For a FreeDOS installation, connect the external keyboard and mouse through the dock. Keep the dock powered and use a wired network adapter only if your dock provides one and Windows recognizes it. Once Windows and MSI drivers are installed, reconnect to Wi‑Fi and complete both One Touch Install and Windows Update.
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An update appears to hang
Keep the Claw on AC power and give the installer time to finish. Do not close MSI Center M or force a shutdown during a BIOS flash. If the device eventually restarts but a package failed, boot into Windows, note the displayed error, and retry only after checking the model-specific MSI instructions.
The scan offers a package for a different Claw
Cancel the installation and verify the model shown in MSI Center M and on the support page. Claw A1M, Claw 7 AI+, Claw 8 AI+, and Claw A8 have separate support entries, and a package listed for one is not a safe substitute for another. If the model identity remains unclear, use the label or original product documentation before proceeding.
Security features versus gaming-performance tweaks
MSI notes that Windows Memory integrity and Virtual Machine Platform can reduce performance in some games. They are also security protections enabled by default on new Windows 11 installations. Disabling them is an optional performance experiment, not part of Claw setup, BIOS updating, or driver maintenance.
Turning either feature off reduces protection, and MSI advises caution. If you choose to test a game without them, understand that they remain disabled until you manually enable them again. Keep the default settings unless you have a specific compatibility or performance reason and accept the security trade-off.
A practical update checklist
- Power connected before first activation and before firmware work.
- Windows setup completed and Wi‑Fi working.
- Exact Claw model and regional support page identified.
- MSI Center M opened through the MSI button or system tray.
- News and Updates > Scan completed.
- Any MSI Center M-before-BIOS requirement followed.
- BIOS update allowed to finish without interruption.
- Settings > Windows Update checked after MSI packages are installed.
- For FreeDOS only: 65 W-or-higher USB‑C dock, external keyboard and mouse, One Touch Install, then repeated Windows Update checks.
Following this order keeps the routine path simple: use MSI Center M for Claw firmware and drivers, Windows Update for Microsoft updates, and MSI’s exact-model support page whenever a manual package is necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up an MSI Claw that came with Windows?
Connect the power cord before pressing the power button, complete the Windows region, language, network, and account screens, connect to Wi‑Fi, then open MSI Center M. Run News and Updates > Scan and install the packages offered for your exact model. Finish with Settings > Windows Update.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Do I need to reinstall Windows on a new MSI Claw?
No. A Claw supplied with Windows should be set up through the normal Windows first-run screens. MSI’s manual installation procedure is for FreeDOS units or an intentional clean reinstall.
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How do I update MSI Claw drivers and BIOS?
Open MSI Center M from the MSI button or system tray, choose News and Updates, and select Scan. Keep power and Wi‑Fi connected, do not close the app during installation, and restart when requested.
Should MSI Center M or the BIOS be updated first?
Check the current notice for your exact model. MSI’s notice for MSI Center M 2.0.2509.1201 requires MSI Center M first for the listed Claw A1M, Claw 7 AI+, Claw 8 AI+, and Claw A8 models, warning that BIOS-first installation can make Quick Settings malfunction.
How do I enter BIOS on an MSI Claw without a keyboard?
Shut the Claw down, press the power button, and when the MSI logo appears, press and hold RB and RT together until BIOS Setup opens.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesCan Windows Update replace MSI Center M?
No. Windows Update handles Microsoft operating-system and security updates. MSI Center M is MSI’s documented route for Claw-specific drivers, firmware, utilities, and BIOS packages. Run both.
What dock do I need to install Windows on a FreeDOS Claw?
MSI recommends a USB‑C dock rated for at least 65 W power delivery, plus an external keyboard and mouse. This recommendation is for manual Windows installation; routine updates on a preinstalled system do not require a dock.
What should I do if MSI Center M shows no updates?
Verify Wi‑Fi, restart the Claw, reopen MSI Center M, and scan again. If you still need a package, use MSI’s exact-model regional support page, read its prerequisites, and never substitute another Claw model’s BIOS.
Is it safe to turn off Memory integrity or Virtual Machine Platform for gaming?
MSI says these Windows 11 security features can reduce performance in some games, but disabling them reduces protection. Treat this as an optional, situation-specific experiment rather than a setup or update requirement.
The Bottom Line
For a Windows-equipped MSI Claw, power on, finish Windows setup, connect Wi‑Fi, scan MSI Center M > News and Updates, follow the model-specific BIOS order, and then run Windows Update. Use the 65 W dock, keyboard, mouse, and One Touch Install only when installing Windows on a FreeDOS unit or performing a deliberate clean reinstall.
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