Dual Processor Recognition

[Guest]

I have 2 AMD 1600+ processors on my computer but for some reason they are not
recognised by XP. When i initially start up my computer, the first load
recognises the processors, but under system information (software
enviornment, enviornment variables), only on processor is recognised. I
realize that dual processors can only be run on XP Professional and i have
upgraded to that. I have a feeling that this might resolve any problems that
i have when booting up my computer.

I have found a way that i think might solve my problem, but i dont know
enough about windows to know that this wont wreck my entire computer. this
fix is by going into the device manager (under the hardware tab in the system
option in the control panel), slecting computer, and right clicking on my
computer and selecting update driver. My computer is currently installed as a
uniprocessor PC, and i can select the multiprocessor PC. Will this mess up my
computer or fix my problem?

-Collin

 

[Guest]

I went through the steps i wrote about earlier and the system information
still says there is only one processor. I also realized that for some reason,
the OS in system information is Windows NT when i am obviously running
Windows XP. whats going on?

 

[CS]

I have 2 AMD 1600+ processors on my computer but for some reason they are not
recognised by XP. When i initially start up my computer, the first load
recognises the processors, but under system information (software
enviornment, enviornment variables), only on processor is recognised. I
realize that dual processors can only be run on XP Professional and i have
upgraded to that. I have a feeling that this might resolve any problems that
i have when booting up my computer.

I have found a way that i think might solve my problem, but i dont know
enough about windows to know that this wont wreck my entire computer. this
fix is by going into the device manager (under the hardware tab in the system
option in the control panel), slecting computer, and right clicking on my
computer and selecting update driver. My computer is currently installed as a
uniprocessor PC, and i can select the multiprocessor PC. Will this mess up my
computer or fix my problem?

-Collin

You need to do a repair install so that the correct HAL gets loaded.
Your current HAL is "Uniprocessor PC" which means one CPU.

If you attempt to update the HAL from within XP (device manager -
hardware) you may foul things up to the point where the system will
not boot. Go to the following web site and follow Mr. Michael Stevens
step by step on how to do a repair install:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Leythos]

You need to do a repair install so that the correct HAL gets loaded.
Your current HAL is "Uniprocessor PC" which means one CPU.

If you attempt to update the HAL from within XP (device manager -
hardware) you may foul things up to the point where the system will
not boot. Go to the following web site and follow Mr. Michael Stevens
step by step on how to do a repair install:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

That's not correct, the updated driver method, if the board and bios
support it, is the proper method to use.

 

[Leythos]

I have 2 AMD 1600+ processors on my computer but for some reason they are not
recognised by XP. When i initially start up my computer, the first load
recognises the processors, but under system information (software
enviornment, enviornment variables), only on processor is recognised. I
realize that dual processors can only be run on XP Professional and i have
upgraded to that. I have a feeling that this might resolve any problems that
i have when booting up my computer.

I have found a way that i think might solve my problem, but i dont know
enough about windows to know that this wont wreck my entire computer. this
fix is by going into the device manager (under the hardware tab in the system
option in the control panel), slecting computer, and right clicking on my
computer and selecting update driver. My computer is currently installed as a
uniprocessor PC, and i can select the multiprocessor PC. Will this mess up my
computer or fix my problem?

First, before you do that (and that's the proper method), go to the
motherboard vendors website and MAKE SURE THE BOARD AND BIOS specifically
on your machine are supported by Windows XP Professional - XP Home does
not support 2 CPU's.

When you did the upgrade it sometimes misses the 2nd CPU if you did an
actual upgrade.

Just make sure that your Board and BIOS fully support it before you do it,
and make a good backup before you do it too.

 

[CS]

First, before you do that (and that's the proper method), go to the
motherboard vendors website and MAKE SURE THE BOARD AND BIOS specifically
on your machine are supported by Windows XP Professional - XP Home does
not support 2 CPU's.

When you did the upgrade it sometimes misses the 2nd CPU if you did an
actual upgrade.

Just make sure that your Board and BIOS fully support it before you do it,
and make a good backup before you do it too.

How can the HAL be updated by the method you describe and recommend
above? Not disputing with you that it won't work, it's just that I
have never been able to change the HAL on any machine that way. The
only way that has ever worked for me is a repair install. I was under
the impression that running a repair install will allow XP to
determine if the board is ACPI compliable and which HAL to install.

 

[Guest]

are you running the multiprocessor version of windows ?

 

[Guest]

For further confirmation, yes i did an actual upgrade from windows 98. i
have a question about the recommended repair install. Will that cause me to
loose any information on my computer or anything? the last thing i want to do
now is further worsen my situation by removing vital files.

 

[Leythos]

are you running the multiprocessor version of windows ?

He said he's upgraded to Windows XP Pro, which supports 2 CPU's.

 

[Leythos]

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 19:10:31 -0600, CS wrote:
[snip]

How can the HAL be updated by the method you describe and recommend
above? Not disputing with you that it won't work, it's just that I
have never been able to change the HAL on any machine that way. The

I've been able to do it since Windows 2000 on every workstation or server
we maintain. Device Manager, My Computer, Uni-Processor, update driver,
find Multi, install it, reboot.

only way that has ever worked for me is a repair install. I was under
the impression that running a repair install will allow XP to
determine if the board is ACPI compliable and which HAL to install.

I avoid the repair/install function when a cleaner method is available.

 

[R. McCarty]

I've done a down grade from an ACPI Uniprocessor HAL to a
Standard PC HAL, So that type of change will work. However,
going the other way I don't is possible. Along with the HAL change
it also requires a number of System Component driver changes as
well. That will only work with a traditional "Repair" install.

See the following, as it states Device Manager will not allow a
driver change from a Non-ACPI HAL to an ACPI one :
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309283

 

[Guest]

I assume so, I am running the newer release of XP Pro (with SP2).

 

[Guest]

For further clarification, i attempted to update the driver to a
multiprocesser PC (this was before i got all the warnings from you all). I
restarted and fortunately, my PC boots up. unfortunately, this hasnt resolved
anything and windows still recognises only one processor.

 

[CS]

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 19:10:31 -0600, CS wrote:
[snip]

How can the HAL be updated by the method you describe and recommend
above? Not disputing with you that it won't work, it's just that I
have never been able to change the HAL on any machine that way. The

I've been able to do it since Windows 2000 on every workstation or server
we maintain. Device Manager, My Computer, Uni-Processor, update driver,
find Multi, install it, reboot.

only way that has ever worked for me is a repair install. I was under
the impression that running a repair install will allow XP to
determine if the board is ACPI compliable and which HAL to install.

I avoid the repair/install function when a cleaner method is available.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[CS]

For further clarification, i attempted to update the driver to a
multiprocesser PC (this was before i got all the warnings from you all). I
restarted and fortunately, my PC boots up. unfortunately, this hasnt resolved
anything and windows still recognises only one processor.

Hi Collin:

Please try the repair method as has been suggested. Be sure you go to
Michael Steven's web site and follow the instructions on how to do a
repair install. As I mentioned to Mr. Leythos in another reply, I
have never been able to update a HAL by trying to update the driver
from device manager - hardware. However, he has more experience than
I, so perhaps you can give it another go before doing the repair.
Good Luck.

 

[Leythos]

For further clarification, i attempted to update the driver to a
multiprocesser PC (this was before i got all the warnings from you all). I
restarted and fortunately, my PC boots up. unfortunately, this hasnt resolved
anything and windows still recognises only one processor.

Did you look in the event log (System) to see if there were any errors.
Since I've never done an upgrade from 98 to XP Prof, maybe that could be
the problem. I've always done this on a dual CPU box that started with one
CPU and then added the second months later - the update driver work every
time. Same with the servers, going from a Single CPU server (in a Dual or
Quad motherboard) and adding processors has worked every time.

Anyone else do a 98>XP Prof with more than one CPU?

 

[Leythos]

Where can i find my event log?

Right click on my computer, select Manage, expand Event Viewer, select
System, look for errors when you reboot.

 

[Guest]

Where can i find my event log?

 

[Guest]

Bingo, turns out that during installation, there was a "non-fatal error".
more specifically, the error (as found in setuperr) was

"Error:
IE Migration: No Rating migration. Private.Inf does not exist.

***"
I think this means i shuold do a repair install, i will look on that site
that was provided.

 

[Guest]

I have a major problem, a repair install is not an option. I have a newer
version of xp pro.. ugh...