Windows 7 Windows 7 x64 Ultimate using only one core of T5600 core 2 duo

J

JaCKo

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Jul 28, 2010
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74
Hi!

So the issue I'm having is that I recently installed Windows 7 Ultimate (from XP Ultimate) and the computer was working really slowly.

First I opened task manager and found only one CPU was being monitored, there was only one window for one CPU, not two windows with only one firing!

This I found strange, checked the WEI and my processor got a 2.3 rating (its a Core 2 Duo @ 1,83Mhz, a T5600), I then downloaded a tone of widgets to check if they could "see" the other core, nothing. I went into msconfig, the no. of processors box is unchecked, if I check it, the drop down menu only gives me the option of picking 1 CPU.

I found a guy with the same problem using Vista, but I can't seem to be able to use his fix: Link Removed - Invalid URL (bottom of page, can't find the HAL detection checkbox)

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate on an HP nx9420 laptop with 3GB of RAM, a new HDD (250GB), the old one just stopped working really, and the Core 2 Duo T5600 @ 1,83Mhz that is running only one core.

Help is much appreciated, because I've been at this problem for a week, the computer is DEAD slow and I can't find anything online.

THANX!
 
Solution
Since it sounds like your BIOS firmware update was successful, it is a common rule of thumb to do a clean install of the Windows after an update is done on the BIOS.

Be SURE to download all the proper 64-bit drivers for you notebook prior to doing the clean install. Store them on a thumb drive or burn them to a CD-RW disc.

Prior to the new clean install, be sure your BIOS is set to "Optimized Defaults" and that your DVD drive is set to "First Boot Device" in the BIOS.

Delete all the prior partitions and create new ones, then begin the install. Windows 7 automatically does a "Quick Format" of the partition during that process.

After install is done be sure to install all the correct drivers and you should be good to go.

This...
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Right...for some wierd reason the screenshot with device configurations doesn't want to upload!!
Just wierd!
Everything is enabled except for "virtualization technology" and "HDD translation mode" is bit-shift instead of LBA-assisted, thats it.
 
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Thank you for the screenshots. I don't quite see what you mean by "bios seem to want to lag a bit," how does it and how do you know?

Link Removed

Why is the virtualization technology disabled?

Have you reinstalled 7 yet?
 
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Thanks for the piccies.. I don't suppose you have another drive lying around you could at least just try...perhaps? Maybe a friend has one you could use? Just so you could check..
 
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Sorry, working all day...

cybercore said:
Thank you for the screenshots. I don't quite see what you mean by "bios seem to want to lag a bit," how does it and how do you know?
Click to expand...

I press the right cursor and it takes a while for bios to react. Its not swift!

cybercore said:
Why is the virtualization technology disabled?
Click to expand...

Thats the default setting, should I enable it?

cybercore said:
Have you reinstalled 7 yet?
Click to expand...

It takes like 4 hours, so I didn't bother because its not a win7 problem as it seems. or it would install normally.
 
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JaCKo said:
Thats the default setting, should I enable it?
Click to expand...

If you enable it won't hurt you, but it won't necessarily resolve the dual-core issue though.


JaCKo said:
This is a "new" drive, it worked fine until the bios upgrade.
Click to expand...

I am a little lost here, it's all the pages of this thread I am browsing through right now, has your system ever worked fine with an earlier bios version?


JaCKo said:
It takes like 4 hours, so I didn't bother because its not a win7 problem as it seems. or it would install normally.
Click to expand...

If you've done bios upgrade, you should reinstall 7. But of course, first be sure that your bios is good.


~~~~~~~~~~


Run Link Removed - Invalid URL

See what it says about your cpu.
 
Last edited:
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Physically remove the battery and only allow power by wire. A bad or defective battery could be doing something weird. A long shot, but simple enough to try.
 
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I've been swamped with work, sorry for writing back so late!
The battery experiment didn't work, but thanks anyway.

If anyone gets any ideas, please post, I'll try to get in touch with HP about the problem, but otherwise it seems to be a hardware problem. I suppose the motherboard could be fried or something in that direction. Its had its run, time to change up.
Supposedly the AsusG73 is quite a machine, I'm thinking of getting it. Win7 won't have a problem running there.

Thanks again for all your help, if you come up with anything, please post, I'll keep an eye out.
 
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Cybercore, just to answer to your post.

The computer worked fine with an earlier version of bios when it was running on both cores, but that didn't last long, a day. When it restarted I couldn't get the other core going anymore, updated the bios and...well, slow to snail.

And I did reinstall win7 after the bios upgrade, three times, but it spent hours and hours doing it, so I just stopped bothering. the problem with speed happens when I'm installing windows. I tried installing win XP and that was excruciatingly slow, and the system was built for XP, so its almost definitely a hardcore problem. The motherboard I'm guessing.

If you figure out anything, please keep posting, I'll be keeping an eye out.
 
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Well, I went and tried troubleshooting the problem with HP support and they couldn't figure it out either.
You guys did a hell of a job, compared to them.
Thanx again.

I've come to termsand decided it was enough.
I'm scrapping the computer for parts and throwing it away.

Better luck with the new machine.
 
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That's sad to hear Jacko.. Do you have a build list for the new set-up?
 
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No, not yet.
I'll probably get it next month, short holiday first, then a new machine for work ... well, play too of course.

Qapla'
xD
 
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