How to enable (and make sure you have enabled) dual core CPU in Windows XP

[fourdee]

I was very annoyed to find out that if you upgrade, XP won't automatically recognize the change from single core to dual core and you may not even notice that only one of your cores is being used (if you don't get the side-by-side CPU charts in the task manager).

You may be able to update the driver manually but that didn't work for me (no option for Multiprocessor ACPI PC), and Microsoft's solution is to re-install XP!

However you only need to change 3 files to fix this. This page details the process: http://www.handaware.com/multiprocessor_XP.html

Also you guys will want to make sure you have the hotfix from microsoft, even if you got multiprocessor working, this fixes some major performance issues and provides a new kernel: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896256

 

[f4phantom2500]

That's weird, is this a common problem because this didn't happen to me. When I replaced my A64 with my X2 it showed up as 1 chart in task manager, then after a minute or so a window popped up saying a new device was installed and that I'd have to reboot. So I did, and there you go, dual core goodness.

 

[fourdee]

Not sure if it is common but I have seen a number of reports of it.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Big thumbs up to a n00b are due here. I have just built a C2D system and was crying into my beer about my 5k 3dmark05 score. I just ran this patch and I'm looking at an 11k score!

Thanks VERY much!

 

[crimson117]

*gives DivideBYZero a thumbs up*

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: crimson117
*gives DivideBYZero a thumbs up*

This is due to fourdee, not me. He has shot out of the n00b gate right into quality posting. Good going compared to some of the tool bags we get on here.

 

[StopSign]

What made him a noob in the first place? Post count?