If you move your msg variables inside the function, it'll be easier to watch the initialisation happening:

          void main()
          {
              xdata char msg1[]="abc";
              xdata char msg2[]="def";

              etc,...

It'll be done in a library call, but at least you'll be able to step through and see the MOVCs happening.
If this worlks, it shows that your startup code is broken.