What needs to be done for XP Pro to work with an X2?

[alcalde]

I'm assembling a new system with an X2 chip, and after install and update through SP2, XP Pro is treating the processor as single core. I attempted to run a utility from AMD's website that seemed to be what I was looking for, but on running it it indicated that it was already installed. I checked Microsoft's web page, but searching for terms like "x2" yielded no results. The processor monitoring utilities I also downloaded from AMD also only showed one core. I'm just curious as to what I'm missing here.

 

[MrChad]

What motherboard are you using? Is the chip detected correctly by the BIOS?

 

[SUOrangeman]

Device Manager -> Computer. Does is say Uniprocessor? If so, I believe you need to update that drive to the Multi-CPU version (ACPI or otherwise). XP should have detected both cores out-of-the-box. It did in my case.

-SUO

 

[alcalde]

Thanks. I believe there are also BIOS issues with this motherboard (Gigabye GA-K8N Ultra-9), it won't post with a new tuner card that works fine in a test system, and I've now managed to make the board un-postable via attempted BIOS upgrade even with a dual BIOS board! This motherboard is SO RMA.

 

[shibumi77]

Download the AMD X2 drivers!

 

[AsianriceX]

If for some reason XP installed the wrong HAL, you can try to "Update Driver" the listing in device manager as SUOrangeman said. Hopefully ACPI Multiprocessor PC will be selectable.

Barring that, you can force XP to install a HAL if you try reinstalling from scratch. When the blue screen comes up asking you to hit F6 for installation of third party storage drivers, you can hit F5 and it'll come up with a menu of sorts. Scroll all the way to the top and select ACPI Multiprocessor PC.

 

[evilharp]

Originally posted by: alcalde
Thanks. I believe there are also BIOS issues with this motherboard (Gigabye GA-K8N Ultra-9), it won't post with a new tuner card that works fine in a test system, and I've now managed to make the board un-postable via attempted BIOS upgrade even with a dual BIOS board! This motherboard is SO RMA.

I have a Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 with an X2 and I've never had a problem (other than XP issues that microsoft addressed with a Hotfix). Here are my suggestions:


Your Mobo
1) You should have dual-bios (gigabyte speciality), restore your old bios (see the manual)
2) What bios do you have? (should be labelled on the cmos chip) Check the gigabyte site, to see if that revision supports X2. If not, upgrade the bios. Make sure that you remove any devices that you are having problems with first (ie the Tuner card)

X2 and WinXP-Pro
1) Install XP-Pro normally.
2) Install the AMD X2 driver (see AMD site)
3) Install SP2 + all available updates
4) Install MS Dual-Core hotfix and add the registry key (see thread in CPU forum)
5) Install other drivers and apps.
6) Done

The Tuner Card
1) Try different PCI slots. The card may be conflicting with another device (IRQ address, etc...)
2) Make sure the card works with XP and that the drivers are current.

Good luck

 

[Pavian]

I did have a similar problem with this GA-K8N Ultra-9.The bios that came with it was version 3.
Initialy winXP discover the X2 4400+.After i have upgreat the bios to the version 7 the problem start to never ends:-( blue screan after the Nvidia drivers had been instaled, the DVD+/- never burned again since.....:-( downgread back to version 3 and guess what it show only one cpu. I have follow all your guys sugestin and no go. Upgreat the bios back to version 7 wich BTW i think it is a beta but the Gigabyte web site says nuthing about...i foud the info in another post some where. Download the chipset drivers from they site NVIDIA IDE driver for nForce4 series 6.66 and since then i can not burn any more ...........OUCH............. This going to ber the first and the last MB i am buying from them... any one hase any tips i am geting verry verry angry...LOL
RMA baby RMA

 

[shibumi77]

try guru3d for the chipset drivers

 

[shiznit]

dont forget the hotfix that solves stuttering and other problems, that way you won't have to mess with affinity.