2nd Processor not recognized by Windows 2003 on Proliant 5500

[Chawboy]

I have a Proliant 5500 dual processor PIII Xeon and I just did a fresh install of Windows 2003 standard edition. Everything runs exceptionally well except for the fact that the 2nd processor is not recognized by OS. The system configuration utility sees all the hardware but windows sees the install as a standard pc using hal.dll. According to all Compaq documents I see the 5500 is supported with Windows 2003 but I cannot seem to get this to work. Does anyone have any ideas?

[john_347]

Hi Chawboy.


Its a long shot and I don't know if this will work but here goes.

Go to control panel in windows, select add/remove hardware, select add/troubleshoot device,

Check to see if you have in the list ACPI Multiprocessor, if not go to top of list and add device, should be in the list of devices to select.

I've had to do it once but that was some time ago... The other thing is to make sure that that you have the latest bios/updates for the firmware you have(well as late as you can get)

Hope it helps

Good luck

john

[Thomas Bianco]

in windows 2000 you had to change the HAL to MP manually, i assume it's the same with 2k3.

check out this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=234558

[Thomas Bianco]

in 2000 you had to change the HAL manually, i assume it's the same with 2k3.

check out: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=234558

[Chawboy]

I have updated the BIOS to the most recent version and even though HP suggests that Windows 2003 is supported it is not available in the assisted installation (SmartStart) so this leads me to believe things would be a manual process at best. Windows 2000 is a manual process for adding multi-cpu support however it is not required if doing a new install which my installation was a bare-bones install (no upgrades). I have since wiped my drives and did an new install of 2000 server with success!!! Why does HP say 2003 is supported? My next test is to do an upgrade from 2000 to 2003 and see what happens! Thanks for all your help!

[Joseph T. Wyckoff]

It is a combination of a Microsoft thang - and a chipset thang.

At install time, if the chipset is detected as being multi-processor capable, then a MPS HAL is installed. If it is not detected, then a single processor HAL is installed.

Some chipsets don't advertise themselves as multi-processor, very well, I guess, and so the wrong HAL is installed.

THEN - if the wrong HAL is installed, and you add a processor - Microsoft says you MUST re-install. OH.

Actually it depends on WHICH HAL was installed, because in at least one case you replace one or two files while booted from an emergency CD, and you are up and happy.

The first issue can be called a hardware issue I suppose - although I think MS has SOME responsibility in the matter - the second issue is MS and only MS...