Windows Vista only running on a single core of my Pentium D CPU

[tedherzog]

When I initially installed Windows Vista Home Premium OEM, I had an
Intel Pentium 4 650 (single core 3.4GHz) Processor installed in my
system. I have since changed the system processor to a Pentium D 830
(dual core 3.0GHz) processor. However, Windows is acting like it
doesn't know my processor has a second core. Task Manager shows the
CPU graph for only a single core and I have a Multi-core Windows
Gadget that I've downloaded that shows Windows is only using a single
core.

I have googled forever to try and find a solution to no avail. I
found a recommendation to use a tool called NTFS4DOS and rename the
HAL.DLL file to something else and rename HALMACPI.DLL to HAL.DLL.
That didn't work. I also tried re-installing Vista on top of itself
(upgrading itself) and that had no affect.

I have removed the entries for the Pentium 4 650 CPU in Device Manager
and Windows Vista Home Premium now correctly identifies my CPU as a
Pentium D 830, but it still only runs on the first core!!!!

My system board is an ASUS P5ND2-SLI. It was also suggested to check
in system BIOS to make sure there isn't a setting to disable one of
the cores. I'm running the latest system BIOS from ASUS (1.06) and
there is no such setting in my BIOS.

I found articles that described systems with AMD processors that
seemed to be more plagued with this problem, however, my CPU is
definitely Intel and the suggested workarounds don't apply.

I'm really not looking forward to formatting my 400GB HDDs and re-
installing Windows Vista. It's now 3 months after the release of
Windows Vista. Somebody must have seen this problem by now, I'd
think, but I can't find a solution posted anywhere.

Please help!!!!

thanks,

ted....

 

[AJR]

First let me apologize that I cannot be more specfic. Vista provides a
"setting" to utilize a dual core processor - however it has been some time
that I changed the setting on one of my Vista computers - unfortunately I
am typing this on an XP and will not use Vista until in the AM (it is now
close to "Numbers" time).
Will recheck this post and if no one has responded with the location of the
Vista setting I will reply.

 

[Michael]

Ted,

The only place I have seen any configuration for number of processors is in
system configuration, boot tab, advanced options.
There is an entry to select number of processors. On my dual core system
the drop down list has '1' and '2' as options.

Also FYI, in Device manager I have two entries under 'Processors'
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHZ
Driver Date 6/21/2006
Driver Version 6.0.6000.16286

Michael

 

[Conor]

When I initially installed Windows Vista Home Premium OEM, I had an
Intel Pentium 4 650 (single core 3.4GHz) Processor installed in my
system. I have since changed the system processor to a Pentium D 830
(dual core 3.0GHz) processor. However, Windows is acting like it
doesn't know my processor has a second core. Task Manager shows the
CPU graph for only a single core and I have a Multi-core Windows
Gadget that I've downloaded that shows Windows is only using a single
core.

I have googled forever to try and find a solution to no avail. I
found a recommendation to use a tool called NTFS4DOS and rename the
HAL.DLL file to something else and rename HALMACPI.DLL to HAL.DLL.
That didn't work. I also tried re-installing Vista on top of itself
(upgrading itself) and that had no affect.

I have removed the entries for the Pentium 4 650 CPU in Device Manager
and Windows Vista Home Premium now correctly identifies my CPU as a
Pentium D 830, but it still only runs on the first core!!!!

My system board is an ASUS P5ND2-SLI. It was also suggested to check
in system BIOS to make sure there isn't a setting to disable one of
the cores. I'm running the latest system BIOS from ASUS (1.06) and
there is no such setting in my BIOS.

I found articles that described systems with AMD processors that
seemed to be more plagued with this problem, however, my CPU is
definitely Intel and the suggested workarounds don't apply.

I'm really not looking forward to formatting my 400GB HDDs and re-
installing Windows Vista. It's now 3 months after the release of
Windows Vista. Somebody must have seen this problem by now, I'd
think, but I can't find a solution posted anywhere.

Please help!!!!

You'll need the DVD in the drive.

Open up Device Manager.

Click the + next to computer.

Right click on whatever entry is there (such as ACPI x86 based PC) and
select properties.

Click on Driver Tab

Click on Update Driver.

Click on Browse My Computer

Click on Let me pick from a list. You may need to untick the "Show
compatible hardware" box.

Select the one appropriate, let it install a driver then reboot.

 

[Phil (PM)]

You'll need the DVD in the drive.

Open up Device Manager.

Click the + next to computer.

Right click on whatever entry is there (such as ACPI x86 based PC) and
select properties.

Click on Driver Tab

Click on Update Driver.

Click on Browse My Computer

Click on Let me pick from a list. You may need to untick the "Show
compatible hardware" box.

Select the one appropriate, let it install a driver then reboot.

Hi, I have same problem, Vista not using both cpu's,
I have a D490 Intel Duel core, both are listed in device manager but
if I click task manager and view performance, there is only one graph
for CPU and I cannot change it to two
Yet when I reinstalled XP Pro onto other HD last weekend and ran it,
sure enough there was two graphs for cpu's
Re your instructions above?
What DVD?
Vista Ultimate 64bit is what I have.
I tried that
Found ACPI x64 based PC, update drive, chose let me choose and browse
my PC, but nothing was found.

Did anyone fix this problem?

if so, please post reply or email me at
pmitche1(nospam)@bigpond.net.au
remove (nospam)

Thanks

Phil

 

[Linus Schroeder]

Hi Ng,

| Hi, I have same problem, Vista not using both cpu's,
| I have a D490 Intel Duel core, both are listed in device manager but
| if I click task manager and view performance, there is only one graph
| for CPU and I cannot change it to two
| Yet when I reinstalled XP Pro onto other HD last weekend and ran it,
| sure enough there was two graphs for cpu's
| Re your instructions above?
| What DVD?
| Vista Ultimate 64bit is what I have.
| I tried that
| Found ACPI x64 based PC, update drive, chose let me choose and browse
| my PC, but nothing was found.
|
| Did anyone fix this problem?
|
| if so, please post reply or email me at
| pmitche1(nospam)@bigpond.net.au
| remove (nospam)
|
| Thanks
|
| Phil

Hi Ng,

I guess, I solved it. After trying an dtesting desperately I found out
this:

- Open Device Manager
- Under "Processors" for *BOTH* Processors:
Click on Driver Tab
- Click on Update Driver
- Click on Browse My Computer
- Click on Let me pick from a list.
(You may need to deselect the "Show compatible hardware")
- Change the processor from "Intel-Processor" to "Processor"

Afterwards you have to re-boot. Both cores should be available now and
will be displayed in the task manager, too.

If it helps someone, please leave a note here.

Greetings
Linus