Core 2 Duo shows up as single CPU

[Zimdesign]

Hey guys I have a weird problem... when I first installed Windows XP, my new E6300 appeared as 2 CPUs in Windows XP. Since then, I have formatted and reinstalled for an unrelated reason, but now my C2D appears as a single CPU.

I am concerned that I am not taking advantage of the second core if Windows can't see it. Any idea on how to fix this problem?

 

[StrangerGuy]

Did you install the motherboard drivers?

 

[Zimdesign]

Yeah, I have an MSI 965 Neo-F. I installed all the programs that are in the menu that autoruns (they grey out once you've installed them).

 

[PG]

XP Pro or Home?

Home did not support dual core CPU's until SP2.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

where do you see 1 cpu.
cpu z ?
windows taskmanager ?
??

 

[Zimdesign]

PG: XP Pro with SP2 installed.

tanis: Windows Task Manager, I guess I should download CPU-Z and see what that tells me.

 

[Prince13]

Zimdesign, this happened to me when I had DISABLED "ACPI" option in BIOS. The Windows XP was installed with only Single core detected. I enabled it, and next time I had a clean install of Windows XP, it detected both the cores by it self. Depends on your BIOS, check under Power for the said option. There also might be option such as use both the cores or single core in your BIOS, so make sure to check that too.

Also, right click on My Computer then Properties > Hardware > Device Manager > Processors

Do you see two processors listed there or one only?

Make sure you Enable ACPI option in BIOS. Then do a Repair install of Windows XP and things will work fine. Or Enable ACPI support, and if Windows XP boots check to make sure you see Multiprocessor under COMPUTER in Device Manager. If not, whatever you see there, right click it, update it's driver and select I will choose from a list, then look for Multiprocessor there.

If still no luck then you can force Windows XP to install the Multiprocessor driver by pressing F5 (I think) on the very initial screen of Windows install where it asks you to press some function button F2 I think to install Harddisk controller driver from diskette. When the list appears, scroll up and select Multiprocessor. I was not able to do this step, Windows setup would just go stuck after I chose Multiprocessor as ACPI was disabled in BIOS.

As soon as that was enabled, things went fine by themselves.

 

[Prince13]

Repair install with the F5 method will work fine too.

 

[Zimdesign]

Thanks Prince13, I will try that when I get home

Makes sense that it's a BIOS thing, because I have been trying quite a few different settings and tweaks to see what works best with my new system. I might have disabled something by mistake.

 

[zephyrprime]

You have the wrong kernel installed. Windows CD actually comes with several kernel file version and the correct one gets picked out during installation. You can just copy the right file after installation I believe. Google "windows kernel multiprocessor" for information. You should have the acpi version of the hal installed also.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
You have the wrong kernel installed. Windows CD actually comes with several kernel file version and the correct one gets picked out during installation. You can just copy the right file after installation I believe. Google "windows kernel multiprocessor" for information. You should have the acpi version of the hal installed also.

There's only one Kernel. Its the different HAL's that enable the Kernel to be so diverse. I.e. work on any x86 cpu.

 

[Prince13]

You are welcome Zimdesign . Let us know if that was the case or not .

 

[Zimdesign]

Hmm, well I made sure ACPI is enabled in the BIOS and I did a repair install of Windows and still no luck. I even installed Windows Vista RC1 and that only shows one CPU also... weird.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

try clicking view. cpu history, one graph per cpu in task manager

 

[Zimdesign]

I checked that... my PC at the office is a Pentium D and has both options (one graph for all CPUs or one each), but on my new rig only one of the two is listed and its greyed out.

 

[Prince13]

Originally posted by: Zimdesign
Hmm, well I made sure ACPI is enabled in the BIOS and I did a repair install of Windows and still no luck. I even installed Windows Vista RC1 and that only shows one CPU also... weird.

Weird indeed...

 

[Zimdesign]

I reinstalled Vista again and it does seem to be working, so my guess is that I should install Windows XP from a much more recent CD (such as one that already has SP2) because I have had this CD ever since XP came out lol. My brother-in-law told me he can get educational software licenses for Microsoft programs so if I can get a good deal on XP Pro I just might pick up another copy to use for programs that are not compatible with Vista or that have issues on the new OS.