Windows 2003 Adding Second CPU

[harveyx]

Proliant 1600 running Win2k saw 2 cpu's but after upgrading to Win03 only one cpu exists. Can't select mulit-procesor in device manager because only standard processor shows up. Is there a way to hack the registry to fix this problem or some other easy solution fixing.

[Arch_Muthiah]

Windows Server 2003 may not use multiple processors with some Intel Pentium Pro or Pentium II Processors.

May I knoew your processors type?


Archie

[Arch_Muthiah]

These are the processor which won't support multiple processor with win 2003.

x86 Family 6 Model 1 Stepping X GenuineIntel (where X = 1, 2, 6, 7, or 9)
x86 Family 6 Model 3 Stepping X GenuineIntel (where X = 3 or 4)

Thanks

[Igor Karasik]

See "Windows Server 2003 May Not Use Multiple Processors with Some Pentium Pro or Pentium II Processors"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319091/en-us

And if CPU stepping is Ok - read this thread
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1020962

[harveyx]

Isthere an easy way to determine which CPU's the system has? I know I can shut down and take it apart but that seems like a lot of work if there is a software tool that can tell me.

Thanks for your prior posts. My guess is I have the wrong CPU's

--Harvey

[Igor Karasik]

See
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/tools/frequencyid/sb/CS-007623.htm

[harveyx]

That Intel tool for determining the CPU is great! Thanks for the link.

As far as the CPU's in the machine, the Intel tool only lists one at present. I tried the tool on a second system that is running Win2k and sees both CPU's and the tool list both processors. So I assume the Frequency Tool runs through the OS and since it does not see the second CPU neither will the tool.

But what I did learn about the CPU is:

Type = 0
Family = 6
Model = 7
Stepping = 3
Revision = E

So after reading the prior post, I wonder why I can't access the second processor.

The link to read more in the prior posting seems to fail when I click on it.

Any other ideas would be very welcome.

--Harvey

[harveyx]

I managed to find the other link about the Proliant and how they solved the problem.

Since this machine is in production with our mail server on it, I wonder if I re-install Win03 over the top of the existing one, will it correct the problem. I know my bios is set to Windows 2000 at this point but I'm not sure what it was when Win03 was installed.

Is there a was to hack the registry and change the file name of the HAL?

--Harvey

[Rune J. Winje]

Are you sure there are 2 physical cpu's installed in the server? (ref the intel tool that only reports 1 cpu)

If not it may be a difference related to hyperthreading being enabled or disabled in the BIOS.

Enabled -> The OS will see 2 x cpu's
Disabled -> The OS will see 1 x cpu

Cheers,
Rune

[harveyx]

I will double check over the weekend but I'm sure when this machine was running Win2k there were 2 CPU's. As far as I know nothing was changed in the BIOS when Win03 was installed.

--Harvey

[harveyx]

Just to be sure we are talking about the same settings, here is what I did. Turned off power then back on. After 30 seconds or so the BIOS reported finding and initializing BOTH 600 mhz CPU's after which I got the message to press F10 to get into the system configuration. Walked through all the setup screens. Found nothing to enable or disable. Found a location that talked about CFG files that could be chosen and one of them offered multiple cpu's but nothing that offered the option to enable a second CPU. I also saw that Windows 2000 was the current OS configuration

Any ideas?

Have a great 4th.

--Harvey

[Roger Faucher]

Harvey:

Can you tell us the mfgr/model of the hardware please.

Thanks and make a great day!

Roger

[harveyx]

Compaq Proliant 1600

[Roger Faucher]

Hi:

FWIW, Windows Server 2003 is NOT supported on the 1600. See:

http://h10018.www1.hp.com/wwsolutions/windows/archive.html

But, since you obviously have it working with one CPU, there may be a way to have it work with 2 CPUs.

Here's a link to the Service Manual which shows that a 1600 can have either 1 or 2 CPUs:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/UCR/SupportManual/TPM_149036-001_rev3_us/TPM_149036-001_rev3_us.pdf

Page 56 of 168 in the above manual documents how to access the Utilities, one of which is the System Configuration Utility. Sounds like a good place to start (after you confirm the presence of 2 processors, of course. You could also run the Processor diagnostics from there.

Make a great day!

Roger

[harveyx]

I had a copy of the 1600 manual already but thanks for pointing me in that direction. With the BIOS utiltiy I have gone through all the steps - the BIOS sees two CPU's. The problem is in the OS and it only developed once I upgraded from Win2k. I also have two other machines with the same configuration running with two CPU's under Win2k and don't have any problems seeing both processors in the Task Manager.

Whatever magic MS put into Win03, HP took it as an chance to stop supporting these boxes.

Thanks a bunch for your efforts. Any other ides would be really welcome but I thin by design HP is preventing this from working.

--Harvey

[Roger Faucher]

Hi Harvey:

See if this article is helpful:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309283/en-us

Make a great day!

Roger

[harveyx]

Thanks for making all these good suggestions. I've now read the MS article and as I see it, the OS should be detecting both CPU's on it own and if I force the correct file I will most likely break the machine all together.

On the Win2k systems the MPS is uesd but this option is not available on the Win03 machine. If I put a copy of the file into the Windows directory from the sounds it, the article suggests the HAL change would then be a mismatch with the rest of hte system and the system would fail to re-boot.

I guess I could remove one CPU, restart the machine let the OS reconfirm that only one processor is in the system and then re-add-in the second CPU and see if on the reboot the OS detected the new hardware.

What do you think, is there any reason to assume the system would see the second processor after removing one that it already does not detect? This is a lot of down time for the machine so I could only do it after hours on the weekend when traffic is really low.

I'll be interested to see you response. Thanks again for your help.

--Harvey

[Roger Faucher]

Hello Harvey:

Go to Device Manager and right-click whatever is under the Computer section and choose Properties. Select the Driver tab and then Update Driver. If the wizard offers to go online, choose "No, not this time". Now click Next and select 'Install from a list or specific location...'. Select "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install", then click Next. You should see a list that matches the 'compatible hardware' in keeping with the Microsoft article referred to above.

As an example, if the current setting is MPS Uniprocessor PC, the list should include that, as well as MPS Multiprocessor PC, and Standard PC. In that case, I would select MPS Multiprocessor PC, then click Next, and finish out the wizard. This might solve your problem. If you run into questions, simply document the original setting and the options shown in the list, then Cancel out of the wizard and post the information here and we'll try to guide you from there.

Make a great day!

Roger

[harveyx]

Followed your instructions - thanks for them it made it very clear what you wanted me try.

The list of compatible hardware checkbox is selected. The only driver in the list is Standard PC. I canceled without making any changes. There was a "Have Disk" button but I assume that installing a file would do exactly what the article recomended not to do.

Any other ideas?

--Harvey

[Roger Faucher]

Hello Harvey:

Can you tell us the speed of your processors please and the BIOS version. Thanks. In lieu of that, just go here and see if you have the latest BIOS:

http://tinyurl.com/kljre

Thanks and make a great day!

Roger

[Roger Faucher]

Hi:

Me again. I think the HAL that needs to get loaded is "ACPI Multiprocessor PC", ACPI APIC MP HAL (Halmacpi.dll). If it were my system, I would extract a copy of HALMACPI.DLL and try a non-destructive re-install. Press F6 when the prompt appears and insert the media containing the .DLL file and hope it takes it. Of course, I wouldn't attempt this without a system backup. As I recall, you press ENTER when the first text-mode screen comes up and press R (for Repair?) when the second text-mode screen appears.

I wish you well.

Roger

[harveyx]

Roger - would you mind expanding a bit more on the process?

I know how to make the repair disk but what is the part about a non-destructive re-install?

And where do I extract the HALMACPI.DLL file from?

When will the F6 prompt show up?

Is the pressing of ENTER when the first text-mode screen comes up and then pressing R (for Repair?) when the second text-mode screen part of the repair or the non-destructive re-install?

And finely, if the restall of this alternate HALMACPI.DLL file causes the system to lock up on booting, what is the easiest way to remove it and restore the system to it's prior state? I assume you are going tell me to use the repair disk but I just want to confirm my understanding before I completly kill our primary web and email servers.

Thanks for all your time. If this works I'm going to owe you big time.

--Harvey

[Roger Faucher]

Hello Harvey:

This article explains an "in-place upgrade":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816579/

The HAL files may have to be extracted from the Windows CD using the EXTRACT command. Go to a Command Prompt and type in EXTRACT /? and see if that gets you going.
If you copied the I386 folder to your HD, you can extract them from there (in the DRIVER.CAB file). If you installed SP1 after you installed the OS, the files (extracted) might be in \WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 or (unextracted) in \WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\sp1.cab

The F6 prompt shows up at the bottom left of the screen very early in the SETUP process. In order to change the HAL, you have to press F5 at that point, I believe.

Sorry to be vague but I haven't changed the HAL this way. I urge you not to do this unless you have a backup and a fairly high level of confidence.

You're right, if this breaks the machine, you'll be reduced to restoring the HAL from the Recovery Console, so make sure you know where an exact copy of your existing HAL is stored before you get too far down the path.

I'm not trying to scare you, I just want to make sure you're very careful and have your bases covered as you attempt this procedure. Best wishes and make a great weekend!

Roger