Windows Vista only runs on single core of Pentium D

tedherzog · 04-29-2007, 08:25 PM

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....

tedherzog · 08-04-2007, 10:51 PM

I can hardly believe it, but I finally found the problem... it was the motherboard BIOS (despite ASUS claim's my CPU was supported since BIOS 0301).

I happened to find out just a few days ago that ASUS quietly released a BIOS update for my motherboard on 6/26/07 - version 0701. Keep in mind, this motherboard is now practically a dinosaur as it first shipped in 2005. ASUS' release notes for the BIOS are practically criminal as they only state the following:

*** BEGIN
P5ND2-SLI BIOS 0701

1. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx.
2. Fix Smart Fan cannot control by PC Probe 2.

1. ¤ä´©·sCPU, ½Ð°Ñ¦Ò¥»¤½¥qºô¯¸: http://www.asus.com.tw/support/cpusu...pusupport.aspx.
2. *×¥¿ PC Probe 2 µLªk±±¨î Smart Fan ªº°ÝÃD.
*** END

As I am writing this, the URL above for this motherboard does not show any new CPUs that require 0701.

That all being said, I'm glad ASUS had the integrity to release a fix. I just wish they were more open about known issues and announcing when fixes are available. I'm even registered with their website as having this motherboard. An e-mail would've been nice, don't you thinK?

If you find this post, because you were as unlucky as me. Go here to get 0701 BIOS:

http://support.asus.com/download/dow...Language=en-us

04-29-2007, 08:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
tedherzog Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista	Windows Vista only runs on single core of Pentium D 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....

08-04-2007, 10:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
tedherzog Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Windows Vista only runs on single core of Pentium D I can hardly believe it, but I finally found the problem... it was the motherboard BIOS (despite ASUS claim's my CPU was supported since BIOS 0301). I happened to find out just a few days ago that ASUS quietly released a BIOS update for my motherboard on 6/26/07 - version 0701. Keep in mind, this motherboard is now practically a dinosaur as it first shipped in 2005. ASUS' release notes for the BIOS are practically criminal as they only state the following: *** BEGIN P5ND2-SLI BIOS 0701 1. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx. 2. Fix Smart Fan cannot control by PC Probe 2. 1. ¤ä´©·sCPU, ½Ð°Ñ¦Ò¥»¤½¥qºô¯¸: http://www.asus.com.tw/support/cpusu...pusupport.aspx. 2. ×¥¿ PC Probe 2 µLªk±±¨î Smart Fan ªº°ÝÃD. ** END As I am writing this, the URL above for this motherboard does not show any new CPUs that require 0701. That all being said, I'm glad ASUS had the integrity to release a fix. I just wish they were more open about known issues and announcing when fixes are available. I'm even registered with their website as having this motherboard. An e-mail would've been nice, don't you thinK? If you find this post, because you were as unlucky as me. Go here to get 0701 BIOS: http://support.asus.com/download/dow...Language=en-us