enabling hyper threading require XP reinstall?

[thomsbrain]

I installed XP on my laptop with HT disabled because I have a program that supposedly runs slower with it on, but I thought it might be interesting to try it with it on. I enabled HT in the BIOS and XP loads but I can't see any indication that it's running Hyper Threading. I see only one CPU graph in task manager, and there is no option for multiple graphs. System Properties shows Pentium 4 CPU 3.20 GHz, but nothing about HT. I wouldn't know where to look in the Device Manager, but I didn't see anything when I looked in there.

Does HT require a reinstall of Windows XP, or an "uninstall" of the "computer" in Device Manager or anything like that? What am I missing here?

specs:
Windows XP Pro SP1
3.2 GHz P4 HT
Intel chipset, can't remember which one. it's 800 MHz FSB, dual channal DDR400

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Do you notice a difference in performance?

 

[Viper96720]

Try going to device manager and scan for hardware changes.

 

[thomsbrain]

i scanned for changes, but nothing popped up and it still shows the same CPU in System Settings. no difference in performance.

 

[PliotronX]

Try this: set a system restore point in case something goes wrong. Then go into Device Manager and open the "Computer" branch (usually the very top). Update the entrie's driver and choose to find your own driver in the wizard. Then select ACPI Biprocessor or whatever-it's-called-I-can't-remember. Restart and it might ask you to restart a second time then it should work. If not, then I think a reformat is required.

 

[mrweirdo]

Just a though that i came up with when i saw this topic:
that would suck for all those people buying dells with hyperthreading but forget to ask to have it enabled in the bios when customizing their new pc if it did require a reformat.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: PliotronX
Try this: set a system restore point in case something goes wrong. Then go into Device Manager and open the "Computer" branch (usually the very top). Update the entrie's driver and choose to find your own driver in the wizard. Then select ACPI Biprocessor or whatever-it's-called-I-can't-remember. Restart and it might ask you to restart a second time then it should work. If not, then I think a reformat is required.

This has worked for me in the past (albeit with Win2K/Win2K3, not XP).

 

[XeonTux]

I can't imagine it would require a reformat. That would be insane.

 

[bluntman]

Are you running XP Pro on the laptop?

 

[Intelman07]

When I enabled HT on my processor it didn't require a reinstall or format, it just changed to a ACPI Mutliprocessor Machine and saw my second processor.

 

[thomsbrain]

yes, it's XP Pro, i'll try updating the driver.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: PliotronX
Try this: set a system restore point in case something goes wrong. Then go into Device Manager and open the "Computer" branch (usually the very top). Update the entrie's driver and choose to find your own driver in the wizard. Then select ACPI Biprocessor or whatever-it's-called-I-can't-remember. Restart and it might ask you to restart a second time then it should work. If not, then I think a reformat is required.

my only options were "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC" and "Standard PC." I'm already set to Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC. Can I get that driver off the XP Pro CD or something?

 

[Viper96720]

Go to device manager expand computer should say ACPI uniprocessor pc or ACPI multiprocessor pc if it sees it as HT enabled.
Right click on the ACPI processor and update driver. Select install from list or specific location. Then select don't search. I will chose the driver.
The ACPI multiprocessor should be available. I'm using XP Home Edition and it's one of the selections available.
I got these to select from

ACPI Mutiprocessor PC
ACPI Uniprocessor PC
ACPI PC
MPS Multiprocessor PC
MPS Uniprocessor PC
Standard PC

Microsoft says when HT is enabled in the bios XP should autoamtically change the HAL.
MS

 

[thomsbrain]

yeah, that's what i did:

i get these to choose from:

Adanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
Standard PC

it's already set up as the first one. if i select it again, it says the driver isn't any different so it didn't reinstall it.
it's a laptop, if that makes any difference. i'm going to try reinstalling the Intel chipset drivers and see if that helps.

 

[Viper96720]

The driver is halmacpi.dll search your hard drive and see if it's on there.
the file is located at C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\driver.cab and C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\sp1.cab

If you don't have SP1 installed then SP1 should install the the drivers needed for MP support.

 

[thomsbrain]

i've copies of that file in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\driver.cab and C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\sp1.cab.

Oh yeah, I have SP1 installed.

 

[s1t]

wow, who would sell a computer without enabling HT, thats just stupid.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: s1t
wow, who would sell a computer without enabling HT, thats just stupid.

well mine was enabled, but dell selling them without it enabled is pretty weird, i agree.

anyway, i reinstalled the chipset drivers but no luck. are there some generic intel drivers i could find?

 

[Viper96720]

Tried unchecking the show compatible hardware. Make a restore point disable HT. Then try changing the HAL. Then enable HT again.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
Tried unchecking the show compatible hardware. Make a restore point disable HT. Then try changing the HAL. Then enable HT again.

ok i tried that. i don't get any extra options when i uncheck "show compatible hardware," and i tied re-doing the whole proceduce with HT off, then again with it on. no luck.

i also tried installing the latest Intel 865 chipset drivers, again with no luck.

 

[thomsbrain]

do you guys know if there is a driver i could use in the "have disk" thing that would make those other options come up? it seems to only recognize INF files, so i wasn't able to direct it to the dll file.

 

[Amused]

In device manager, under "Processors" how many are listed?

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Amused
In device manager, under "Processors" how many are listed?

ah. there's two listed: both say: Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.20GHz

does this mean that HT is working properly? i still can't see more than one graph in task manager, and running SETI (non multi-threaded, last time i heard) still takes up 100% of available power.

 

[XBoxLPU]

crtl+alt+del

Performace tab and then go to view>cpu history> what do you see ?

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
crtl+alt+del

Performace tab and then go to view>cpu history> what do you see ?

i see "one graph per CPU" as the only option, and it's greyed out.