Dual-Core missing a CORE? Huh? Please help!

Hi NBR Readers

I am currently having some problems with my very old Sony SZ laptop.

I got my Sony SZ awhile back, upgrade a SSD drive last year and everything was running very smoothly. Last month my CPU fan ran A LOT slower than usual. I ignore it since I have a laptop cooler on it most of the time.

Two weeks ago I when I press Ctrl + Alt + Del, I found out my dual core laptop is missing 1 core. At first I thought it was the XP system play games with me.

I did a full system restore to factory setting, ran CPU-Z.



Anyone got any ideas how I could get one of my core back?

Any help would be greatly appreciate!

Thank You in Advance! =D

Ch28Kid

 

Which HAL do you run?
Right-click my computer, choose Manage, then Device Manager, and expand the top entry, Computer.
It has to say ACPI Multiprocessor PC or MPS Multiprocessor PC to support more than a single CPU. If you reinstalled Windows, you may have to do so again, and this time press F5 when it tells you to press F6 to load drivers (yes, press F5, not F6) -- that gives you a choice of which HAL to use. (Note that only two choices are shown at a time, but you can scroll through a much longer list by using up/down keys.)

Another possibility is that multiple cores have been turned off in the BIOS setup. (Or by flashing the wrong BIOS)

 

Hi Arth1

Thanks for the quick reply.

It says "ACPI Multiprocessor PC"

Is that correct?

 

Yes. That is correct. Like arth said, do you have an option in your BIOS to disable/enable multi-core support? You seem to know what you're doing pretty well, so is there any way you could try a live Ubuntu spin perhaps? If ubuntu detects 2 cores, it would help narrow things down pretty quick, because I don't know many Vaio's that have the option to disable multi-core support. They keep their BIOS's K.I.S.S.

 

Thank for the quick reply!

I just did a fresh install of Windows XP.

I press F5 before installation and picked "MPS Multiprocessor PC".

When I finish installing WinXP, the OS still show up as ACPI Multiprocessor PC with 1 core.

Sony BIOS is really really simple. There is nothing to play with other than boot setting.

This missing core is really stressing me out!

 

MPS Multiprocessor PC
Applies to non-ACPI computers with a dual processor running.

That's why. Your notebook is an ACPI Multiprocessor PC. Have you tried installing XP without using the F5 screen? XP should pick up a Core 2 Duo just fine on a regular install. XP chooses it's own HAL on install typically.

 

The initial install was by XP default setting... I assume ACPI Multiprocessor PC.

Even if I pick MPS Multiprocessor PC, the OS auto adjust itself back to ACPI.

 

That is really odd. I've only ever seen 1 bad C2D, and it had almost these exact symptoms. One core simply stopped functioning. I'd run a live linux cd and do a BIOS update just to make sure though.

 

Try a non-clean install. Maybe the clean install did some unwanted changes.
Use the restore disc (or partition) and put every thing back.

The reason why I say this, is because clean isstalls tend break thing among the supposedly speeding things up.

 

this is xp problem
try other xp installation

edit:
how about device manager?

edit2:
found fixation for vista:
Start>Start Search>msconfig>Boot Tab>Advanced Button
uncheck processor number
check Detect HAL box
Apply and Reboot
after task manager show 2 cores
Start>Start Search>msconfig>Boot Tab>Advanced Button
uncheck Detect HAL box
Apply and Reboot

edit3:
try here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299340
or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309283/

edit4:
you can also add:

Code:

/HAL=filename

 

Thanks for all the input.

So happy to wake up this morning with all the replys!

So I've tried 2 system restore using VAIO recovery. A clean install of Window XP and I still have a missing one core.



Device Manager still show up as 2, I guess that is good news.

I want to run a live linux CD like you said but I haven't tired it before. I assume Ubuntu works?

 

w8 i found a fixation for xp
give me some time to reply

edit2:
from device manager under computer > acpi multiprocessor pc > you can left click update driver
the following screen will appear... see attachment

 

I am there now... I see the same list!

What should I do next?

 

should be the first or the third one

edit2: make sure you have unchecked the proc. num under start > run > msconfig > boot > advance.

 

I picked MPS and it kinda fixed the problem. Yeah!!!



Processors is missing from device manager now.... ARGHHHHH

 

LOL...

what happen if you change back to first choice?

 

Nothing... I can try it now..

 

Actually I can't go back to ACPI anymore... WHAT THE..



edit2: nvm I can go back... only if i select the first MPS on the list!

 

i am not very sure how to put back you processors...
but you can try to repair using windows xp disc

edit:
i can't guarantee you this method will work
put the following into batch file:

Code:

devcon sethwid @ROOT\PCI_HAL\0000 := !E_ISA_UP !ACPIPIC_UP !ACPIAPIC_UP !ACPIAPIC_MP
!MPS_UP !MPS_MP !SGI_MPS_MP !SYSPRO_MP !SGI_MPS_MP > nul
devcon sethwid @ROOT\ACPI_HAL\0000 := !E_ISA_UP !ACPIPIC_UP !ACPIAPIC_UP !ACPIAPIC_MP
!MPS_UP !MPS_MP !SGI_MPS_MP !SYSPRO_MP !SGI_MPS_MP > nul
devcon sethwid @ROOT\PCI_HAL\0000 := +MPS_MP > nul
devcon sethwid @ROOT\ACPI_HAL\0000 := + MPS_MP > nul
devcon update %windir%\inf\hal.inf MPS_MP > nul

change your mps to standard then run the batch file...
it will change your pc to acpi....

 

I've got exactly the same problem with my SZ2. Under Ubuntu there's just one core visible. I've tried switching the CPU but it didn't help. Booting Linux with no ACPI allows me to use both cores, but no power management then. In a few days, after migrating to my new Z12, I'm gonna try a few things with Windows and Linux.

 

I still only see 1 core. I think one of the core is dead.

I just did a fresh install of Windows 7 and task manager only show up as 1 core.

Sigh.... Thanks for the help Andrew08. =D

 

hmm...
then the question is
why with mps multiprocessor it shows that there are 2 cores...

edit:
last try
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNSZ360PC&upd_id=2709&os_id=29
that is the latest bios
R0096N0

because intel still say t7200 is 2 cores processor
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27255

 

Did you see this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...pled-mpc-support-multi-processor-support.html

 

Thanks moral hazard for finding this for me. I am going to read it. =D

 

Its a great relief to see others having the same problem that I had. I have been trying to diagnose this symptom for several years. Of course, I am sorry to hear that others have the issue but I am not alone

I do not think that it is actually a dead core, but more likely a corrupt BIOS setting. Not that I have used any BIOS other than the official Sony SZ BIOS for my notebook. Why do I think this? Because the last official BIOS release for my SZ refused to run claiming it could not identify the notebook. Maybe my notebook's BIOS is corrupt. However, I hope I am wrong and that there is a simpler fix.

I have tried these O/Ses on my Sony SZ to see if any managed to activate the second core, and all failed:
On those that I could, forced ACPI by appending this to the boot options, only to watch the kernel fall back to one CPU
Ubuntu 9.04
Ubuntu 10.04
OpenBSD 4.5
Solaris 10
Windows XP Professional
Knoppix (forgotten version)

Sorry for the crap news.

 

How did you do this? I can live without the power management. When I added ACPI to the boot options it only used one core. Perhaps, later O/Ses default to ACPI, which means when I added acpi to grub it made no difference since it was using ACPI any way?

 

I just did a fresh install of Windows 7 on my SZ and I gave up on getting one of my core back.

The last couple of months I was really unfriendly to my laptop... letting it run 70C plus all the time without proper cooling.

I notice that in Windows 7, you cannot select MPS mode. I was really happy when I was running MPS in WinXP but I couldn't get the device manager to detect the processor.

Intel CPU have no warranty right?

@ghrh I look forward to your good news. Keep me updated! Thanks =D

 

It's all about adding 'noacpi' or 'acpi=off' to the boot parameters in GRUB. However this ends up in a very hot CPU and a very loud fan.

@Ch28Kid - have you tried reflashing your BIOS?

 

Yes, did not work.

 

Hot CPUs are not too much fun. However, I'd like to give this a try this evening.

I know how to do this on Linux etali, but I am unsure with WinXP:
Currently, the system has the ACPI installed, and I would like to change this to the MPS to see what happens. How can I do this? Should I change from ACPI back to Standard, and then from Standard to MPS?

kz.

 

I have Sony F12 (VPCF126FM) WITH QUAD CORE I7 Processor. But Task manager shows only 2 cores! CPU-Z shows that I have 1 core with 2 threads! After I changed BIOS Windows Experience Index on my Processor start showing 5.3 instead 7.1 before (but in both ways it was shown 2 cores in task manager) I have Windows 7. Resource monitor shows cpu0 and cpu1 (2 cpus only).
HELP PLEASE!!!

 

I SOLVED THIS PROBLEM MYSELF (Thanks to google)

I got only 2 threads instead 8. 1 core was always overbooting using Turboboost and temperature was high. Thanks to google I made my comp use all cores.
This may be because of wrong booting windows (Win 7 in my case)
Do this!
Start/run/tape "msconfig"/push Enter/ the window will be opened. Boot/ advanced settings/do not choose any # of cores. Then apply and reboot
THAT IS ALL!!! The same for Vista!
By specifying 1, you tell the computer to ignore the rest of the remaining cores.
By NOT specifying at all, you tell the computer to use processor as it should be

 

Tried that and it didn't work. I can't even tell it to run on two processor.

 

Cause it should be. Trust me I also could not to tell it to run more then 2. When I wrote above "do not choose any # of cores" I ment to PUT NO CORE. I mean take the check away so number "1" (in your case) became GRAY! After this Windows will not use that limitations at all. Then apply and reboot. Write after rebooting I saw all 8 cores and I was happy today.

P.S. English is not my native lang so sorry for not specific steps. If U still didn't understand anything I wrote - just ask.

 

I did that... it didn't work.



I can't even select to have it run on 2. When I do check the box, it only show up as CPU 1. I lost CPU 0.. :'(

 

Well if you pushed OK now leaving it without checking box (the idea is not to choose 2 (it is max you can on Core2duo) but to erase this choosing like it is with memory on right side) then reboot and it didn't help - your CPU really went for a walk...
It was dual core - became solo

PS when you came first to Boot advanced options # of processors was checked or it was grey?

 

Initially it was gray out!

I tried both ways and it didn't work.

 

Your praise should not be for Google, but for the people who did the work for you. Google was just the middleman taking the cut I am glad you found out what the problem was.

On another note, last night I set acpi=off on the bootloader and the second core popped into view. The programme sensor-detect could locate some probes, so I shall look for a programme to manage the fans etali since ACPI is disabled. I won't bother changing the HAL on WinXP because I only use XP for one computer game called Neocron.com, and this does not need the second CPU.

@chkKid2:
you have an SZ360PC, which has a T7200. Did you check to see whether you had an ACPI or non-ACPI HAL installed?
(On Windows XP use : Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager -> Computer -> HAL and show properties)
From what I understand, if you have an ACPI HAL installed then the second core should disappear.

 

It's not necessarily about the fans, but about CPU not entering any power saving mode. There are a few tools in Linux to try to do it, I'll look to it next week.

 

Great, thank-you for looking into this. It would be great to be able to manage the power states (which I had overlooked.)

 

@Kzii

I'm currently running Windows 7 now... and there it show up as

 

Yeap, I know. That is exectly why I wrote "thanks to google" using little letters and other using BIG ones.

 

try 64 bit version of windows 7...

 

I don't think I will... I just spent hours and hours making the FN keys and other drivers to work perfectly. I don't want to reformat.

Honestly I don't think I can recover the second core.

I've format / fresh install / semi-fresh install / full recovery ... whatever you call it so many times the past 3 years and never had this problem. I think the CPU and motherboard is getting old..

 

hmm i thought that the mps multiprocessor fixed it... why not you use it?
or you prefer battery life?

 

Actually I prefer Windows 7 over Windows XP. I've purchase a student copy of Windows 7 for awhile and never got the time to install it.

Anyone know how to run MPS on Windows 7? It is the same as Windows XP install (hit F5 before installing)?

 

I am pretty sure that 7 is fully automatic and it is no need to change manually in installation

 

but now he can only see a single core...

 

Of course Win7, like WinXP, will automatically load a HAL, but both O/Ses load the incorrect one. In this case, these load an ACPI version instead of an MPS version.

Clearly there is a need to change it manually.

Please, either do keep up with us.

 

Hmm. I wrote just ONE sentance and you separated it like I sent 2 with at least 2 ideas. When I said "...and it is no need to change manually in installation" it's thought was still connected to MPS install in Windows 7. I do understand that I should change manually partitions where to install, some time zones in the end of installing etc.
Just for protocol, I installed at least 15 times different windows (from XP x86 to Win 7 x64) with different languages (English, Russian) on different machines (from computers to laptops with either 1 Core processor or multi) many years ago and couple days ago and I never changed advanced settings in install. Should I tell U that I never had problems with quantity of cores?
No, I'm not some IT specialist like perhaps U R. I'm that one who knows what side of disk should be put downside in the DVD-ROM (I managed this almost kung-fu technic when i first saw a computer at first ) So if you want to look smarter in somebody's eyes you obviously should not joke in such a big sarcastic way with people like me. You better "keep up with us"