There is a very rare instance that may happen under Windows 7 if you upgrade your processor from a single to a dual or a dual to a tri or a tri to quad core processor. Under Windows Task manager > Performance tab you may encounter only the previous amount of cores visible even if you have Task Manager > View > CPU history > One Graph per CPU checked off. This graph pane area which should show the equivalent amount of cores per graph is directly tied into the MSConfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > "Number of Processors" setting. You may not show the correct amount of cores in this MSConfig pull-down. Let me give an example: You install Windows 7 with a dual-core processor and have this option checked for "Number of Processors" (in Msconfig > Boot > Advanced options) and the amount set to "2" (for dual core). This setting is not mandatory to be set but some ppl do in order to force Task Manager to show 2 graphs (or 3). One graph for each processor. At a later point in time you upgrade to a Quad-core or Tri-Core processor. The OS will not read this extra core or have anything enabled to physically use this extra core(s) until the following are performed: Uncheck in MSConfig > Boot tab > Advanced Options > "Number of Processors" and exit MSConfig d/l and install an applet called EasyBCD 1.7.2 (or later, Google: EasyBCD) which supports many features of Windows 7. Go into Advanced Options in EasyBCD and select "Limit Widows to '0' CPUs (Leave 0 to reset)". Click "Apply Settings" and exit EasyBCD. NOTE: This will force the OS to reset the count to default for the amount of Cores you now have. There is possibly a boot setting that can be added that I may not be aware of to do this same function but this little applet works and does the same thing. Don't muck around with any other setting in this utility if you don't know what you are doing it may leave your computer unbootable and a complete reinstall or long repair may need to be performed. Just make sure this one setting is set to "0" Completely shutdown the OS (not reboot or restart or logout). Correctly Shutdown you computer so the it powers down. upon restart into the OS the Task Manager > Performance tab should now show the correct amount of per core graphs if you have the "One Graph per CPU" option selected. Yay your back in business =) Notes: Some of these discrepancies will appear if your OS is reading the incorrect amount of cores. Device Manager will show the correct amount of Cores for the PC after the new CPU is installed even tho Task Manager still shows the old amount of cores. This is why you need to preform these steps above to fix this disparity and enable the OS to work with the new additional core. CPU-Z (Google: CPUID CPU-Z) will show an incorrect amount of cores until you preform the above steps. SiSoft Sandra (Google: SiSoft Sandra) will show the correct amount of Cores for the PC after the new CPU is installed even tho Task Manager still shows the old amount of cores. This is why you need to preform these steps above to fix this disparity and enable the OS to work with the new additional core. Reinstalling Windows 7 with the "Upgrade" (not Custom Option) will not fix this issue until the above steps are performed. The reinstall should clear the "Number of Processors" setting in MSConfig but it doesn't! Hence the need to run the above steps and avoid a reinstall which takes greatly more time and still does not fix this issue. In a dual boot (XP/Win7) PC, the XP Task Manager will show the correct amount of Cores in Task Manager > Performance tab even tho the same place under Windows 7 will not! Hence the need to perform the above steps. This is a rare issue, but if you are upgrading CPUs in the future these are a very important steps to enable your Win7 OS to take advantage of this extra core you are buying. Even tho in places like Device Manager it will show the correct amount of cores the MSConfig setting will override the Device Manager only allow you to work with a lessor amount of cores thereby limiting your CPUs true potential preserving your good investment. Good Luck! I hope someone who encounters this issue finds their way here after a CPU upgrade or they may rip their hair out and I can tell you from experience I was making the Level 3 tech support at Microsoft rip their hair out when I found this issue lol I was getting an Experience Index value for Processor of 6.3 when this core was disabled and not showing up in Task Manager > Performance tab. Once the above steps were performed my Performance Index jumped to 6.9! My old Dual-Core CPU was an Experience Index of 6.1 to show you the difference a 3rd core can add to your system. In the future, once I start gently Overclocking my new Triple-core processor (once I get a better CPU cooler) It should exceed 7.2-7.4 or greater Experience Index. =) TCsenter wrote also: Some recommendations (make sure you are running as Administrator): Run MSConfig -> Change to Boot tab -> Advanced Options -> "Number of Processors", make sure there is no check mark. Delete processor entries listed in Device Manager, then reboot and allow Windows to redetect/reinstall them. In BIOS, check for an option named Max CPU ID Value or CPU ID Max Val and make sure its set to disabled . This option is only provided for OS prior to Windows 2000. Save and Exit BIOS. Check for a BIOS update for your system or motherboard. Confirm the CPU model is supported by the motherboard

Hello All. Please help. I am running Win 7 Ultimate. I had a Q6600 quad and I have now upgraded to Core I7 930 CPU. Windows experience only shows my CPU at 4.9???? task manager shows 8 cores and device manager shows 8 cores. I tried what was suggested in this forum but it did not help. Any ideas please? As far as I know this thread does not cover 2 quad cores installed onto a motherboard. It is only for single processors that I have created this thread. I would recommend you contact Microsoft Technical support and give them your specific motherboard model and processor types and as much information as you can to allow them to help you in figuring out this specific problem. I feel your pain in this situation but I am at a loss to what could be the issue with multiple processors. If task manager is showing 8 cores then that is a good step. The Experience index is tuned for single core determination and I would not put too much weight on this specific score. Make sure a good software program actually show the performance scores when your system is tested by it. I can recommend SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2010.SP1d. It is a free download and can give you good results and should support your hardware. Google it. Best of luck to you and Happy Memorial Day

Hello All. Please help. I am running Win 7 Ultimate. I had a Q6600 quad and I have now upgraded to Core I7 930 CPU. Windows experience only shows my CPU at 4.9???? task manager shows 8 cores and device manager shows 8 cores. I tried what was suggested in this forum but it did not help. Any ideas please?

Peter, I tried your instructions perfectly and it didn't work for me. I have two dual cores and although device manager shows them all, task manager only shows two. I spoke with Tyan (my motherboard manufacturer) and they said it should show up in the Task Manager. They said the reason it doesn't is because I'm using windows 7 Home Premium and that Home Premium doesn't support more than 2 cores. Any truth to this? I can't find info on the ms website about it. Any help is greatly appreciated. That is TOTAL C R A P, Windows home premium is fully capable of supporting multi-core processors natively in either 32 or 64 bit install. Whomever told you this you need to call them back and tell them to go to school cause they are full of C R A P. Here is proof it supports multi-cores from a MVP moderator who says so. I found it by doing a quick Google search for "Windows Home Premium and multi-core support". Take a look a the 2nd post: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7install/thread/566d8e98-5ff6-41ad-bd79-593f5afa3655 I'm sure if you dig deeper in MSDN (the online Microsoft Developers Network) u can find the specific white paper on all this but I have to say your Tyan tech support rep is full of c r a p and needs to go back to school. Also, one thing I noticed is you said you have "2 dual cores". There is no such thing, you have a quad core not 2 duals. Dual means 2 and 2 + 2 = 4 last I checked. and 4 cores is represented as a quad not as 2 duals for clarities sake. You must have specificity when you are talking about components or you may loose ppl in helping them understand what you mean. Just a tip from me to u. The recognition of the quad cores is handled by the OS and I have no idea why you are calling Tyan as they will have no clue what you are even doing if they do not even know the OS Premium supports a quad core processor. Leave them out of it, they are clueless. Deal with Microsoft Technical Support if you have to by going to this link and calling them. This is the link for phone and email support form Windows Home Premium and I bet you anything they will know how many cores their OS supports, lol Use this link to get support for what I mentioning in my original Post (OP) to get the OS to see your multicore processor. https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?st=1&as=1&as=1&tzone=300&gprid=14019&timestmp=634015831083231434&ps=1&acty=ProductList&ctl=productlist&wf=PID&trl=PID~ProductList&c=SMC&ln=en-us&prid=13193&gsaid=598988 The one thing I can say in Tyan's defense is that their motherboard may not be able to support a multi-core processor at worst case scenario. Although I doubt that but in any case, the OS is fully capable of supporting multi-cores. Not sure which Tyan mobo you have but that information Tyan should be able to provide you as to what core(s) processor their Mobo does support. Or their website should if they are worth their weight. If they can't, then god help us all, lol OK, while your presumption of this person incorrectly identifying the CPU they have may be the most likely...your assertion is more supercilious than objective. it is possible to own a dual socket with a dual core in each. i still use a Opteron server with 2-dualcore CPU's thus 4 cores. calling Tyan may not be the single shot solution, it eliminates any possible issue that the motherboard has issues or in need of a BIOS upgrade and can answer any additional question pertaining to compatibility and/or known errata than may or may not have solutions being addressed or fixes available. ie "CPU recognition" is handled from information given from BIOS to the OS, and there can exists problems if the code is in need of updating to properly identify and operate a specific CPU, stepping etc. on another note, i would like to ask for clarification. when upgrading from a single to multi core on a Windows 7 OS install (32 or 64) the aforementioned workaround is valid? in that all previous MS OS's that could multi thread required a new or "repair" installation in order to install the proper kernel. Windows 7 uses one kernel for single and multi threads??

I Have an other problem with multicore ... I Have a new MoBo (Gigabite 890 GPA-UD3H 890 GX) with an AMD Phenom II x6 2800 MHz OS: Win 7 Home Premium 32 Bit The Bios recognise the Processor correct. Windows recognise 6 Cores, but: - AMD Processor Unknown 803 MHz What can I do about that ?? edit: Solved :-) ... theire was an update of the system bios ... now win 7 recognise my CPU en everithing works normaly :-)

Okay everyone... ***HERE'S THE CORRECT ANSWER - PERIOD!!!!***And this *HAS* been verified by one one of the project managers involved in Windows 7. Windows 7 Home Premium will **ONLY*** show multiple processors IF THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE : Your machine has: ****** ONE (1) PHYSICAL processor that is a multi-core processor. ******IE: Duo-Core Intel Processor. Some of the HP Laptops that are out now are Quad-Core, ONE PROCESSOR, so that's why W7HP shows 4 processors. MORE THAN ONE PHYSICAL PROCESSOR, Windows 7 Home Premium will ***NOT*** support it - PERIOD! W7HP will *ONLY* see the 1st processor & the core(s) of that one ONLY! I installed Windows 7 Ultimate and right off the bat, without doing a thing, my machine showed 4 processors, where W7HP only showed 2. That's when I talked to one of my old customers about the issue, and he said Microsoft did this in order to keep business and other people from purchasing W7HP to run on Multi-Processor machines, without spending the additional money, and because W7HP was designed as a "low cost" entry level Windows 7 platform! So for those on here that are having this issue, you need to figure out if your machine has ONE PHYSICAL processor with multi-cores, or if it's like mine with MORE THAN ONE PHYSICAL processor. If you only have one, then I would take "passionfly1"'s advice and get Microsoft involved if you are still within your time period. If you have MORE THAN ONE PHYSICAL processor inside your machine, you will have to upgrade to at LEAST Windows 7 Professional in order to utilize more than one physical processor. This is true for BOTH 32 & 64bit versions. Hope this helps out a bit! This is good information but this specific series of steps in the original post deals with upgrading your computer from a lesser amount of cores to a greater amount of cores in a physically single processor motherboard under Windows 7 Professional (of which I assume the majority of ppl on this thread seem to have). If you have multiple physical processors or are using the Home version (Windows Lite, lol), your mileage may vary in how successful these steps may take you.

HOWTO: Get Windows 7 to detect your new multi-core processor

Anonymous

There is a very rare instance that may happen under Windows 7 if you upgrade

your processor from a single to a dual or a dual to a tri or a tri to quad core processor. Under Windows Task manager > Performance tab you may encounter only the previous amount of cores visible even if you have Task Manager > View > CPU history > One Graph per CPU checked off.

This graph pane area which should show the equivalent amount of cores per graph is directly tied into the MSConfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > "Number of Processors" setting. You may not show the correct amount of cores in this MSConfig pull-down.

Let me give an example:

You install Windows 7 with a dual-core processor and have this option checked for "Number of Processors" (in Msconfig > Boot > Advanced options) and the amount set to "2" (for dual core). This setting is not mandatory to be set but some ppl do in order to force Task Manager to show 2 graphs (or 3). One graph for each processor. At a later point in time you upgrade to a Quad-core or Tri-Core processor. The OS will not read this extra core or have anything enabled to physically use this extra core(s) until the following are performed:

Uncheck in MSConfig > Boot tab > Advanced Options > "Number of Processors" and exit MSConfig
d/l and install an applet called EasyBCD 1.7.2 (or later, Google: EasyBCD) which supports many features of Windows 7.
Go into Advanced Options in EasyBCD and select "Limit Widows to '0' CPUs (Leave 0 to reset)". Click "Apply Settings" and exit EasyBCD.

NOTE: This will force the OS to reset the count to default for the amount of Cores you now have. There is possibly a boot setting that can be added that I may not be aware of to do this same function but this little applet works and does the same thing. Don't muck around with any other setting in this utility if you don't know what you are doing it may leave your computer unbootable and a complete reinstall or long repair may need to be performed. Just make sure this one setting is set to "0"

Completely shutdown the OS (not reboot or restart or logout). Correctly Shutdown you computer so the it powers down.
upon restart into the OS the Task Manager > Performance tab should now show the correct amount of per core graphs if you have the "One Graph per CPU" option selected. Yay your back in business =)

Notes: Some of these discrepancies will appear if your OS is reading the incorrect amount of cores.

Device Manager will show the correct amount of Cores for the PC after the new CPU is installed even tho Task Manager still shows the old amount of cores. This is why you need to preform these steps above to fix this disparity and enable the OS to work with the new additional core.
CPU-Z (Google: CPUID CPU-Z) will show an incorrect amount of cores until you preform the above steps.
SiSoft Sandra (Google: SiSoft Sandra) will show the correct amount of Cores for the PC after the new CPU is installed even tho Task Manager still shows the old amount of cores. This is why you need to preform these steps above to fix this disparity and enable the OS to work with the new additional core.
Reinstalling Windows 7 with the "Upgrade" (not Custom Option) will not fix this issue until the above steps are performed. The reinstall should clear the "Number of Processors" setting in MSConfig but it doesn't! Hence the need to run the above steps and avoid a reinstall which takes greatly more time and still does not fix this issue.
In a dual boot (XP/Win7) PC, the XP Task Manager will show the correct amount of Cores in Task Manager > Performance tab even tho the same place under Windows 7 will not! Hence the need to perform the above steps.

This is a rare issue, but if you are upgrading CPUs in the future these are a very important steps to enable your Win7 OS to take advantage of this extra core you are buying. Even tho in places like Device Manager it will show the correct amount of cores the MSConfig setting will override the Device Manager only allow you to work with a lessor amount of cores thereby limiting your CPUs true potential preserving your good investment.

Good Luck! I hope someone who encounters this issue finds their way here after a CPU upgrade or they may rip their hair out and I can tell you from experience I was making the Level 3 tech support at Microsoft rip their hair out when I found this issue lol

I was getting an Experience Index value for Processor of 6.3 when this core was disabled and not showing up in Task Manager > Performance tab. Once the above steps were performed my Performance Index jumped to 6.9! My old Dual-Core CPU was an Experience Index of 6.1 to show you the difference a 3rd core can add to your system. In the future, once I start gently Overclocking my new Triple-core processor (once I get a better CPU cooler) It should exceed 7.2-7.4 or greater Experience Index. =)

TCsenter wrote also:

Some recommendations (make sure you are running as Administrator):

Run MSConfig -> Change to Boot tab -> Advanced Options -> "Number of Processors", make sure there is no check mark.
Delete processor entries listed in Device Manager, then reboot and allow Windows to redetect/reinstall them.
In BIOS, check for an option named Max CPU ID Value or CPU ID Max Val and make sure its set to disabled . This option is only provided for OS prior to Windows 2000. Save and Exit BIOS.
Check for a BIOS update for your system or motherboard.
Confirm the CPU model is supported by the motherboard

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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60 answers

Anonymous

2010-05-28T19:46:49+00:00

Hello All. Please help. I am running Win 7 Ultimate. I had a Q6600 quad and I have now upgraded to Core I7 930 CPU. Windows experience only shows my CPU at 4.9???? task manager shows 8 cores and device manager shows 8 cores. I tried what was suggested in this forum but it did not help. Any ideas please?

As far as I know this thread does not cover 2 quad cores installed onto a motherboard. It is only for single processors that I have created this thread. I would recommend you contact Microsoft Technical support and give them your specific motherboard model and processor types and as much information as you can to allow them to help you in figuring out this specific problem. I feel your pain in this situation but I am at a loss to what could be the issue with multiple processors.

If task manager is showing 8 cores then that is a good step. The Experience index is tuned for single core determination and I would not put too much weight on this specific score. Make sure a good software program actually show the performance scores when your system is tested by it. I can recommend SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2010.SP1d. It is a free download and can give you good results and should support your hardware. Google it.

Best of luck to you and Happy Memorial Day
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Anonymous

2010-05-28T12:20:26+00:00

Hello All. Please help. I am running Win 7 Ultimate. I had a Q6600 quad and I have now upgraded to Core I7 930 CPU. Windows experience only shows my CPU at 4.9???? task manager shows 8 cores and device manager shows 8 cores. I tried what was suggested in this forum but it did not help. Any ideas please?
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Anonymous

2010-05-15T18:44:58+00:00

Peter, I tried your instructions perfectly and it didn't work for me. I have two dual cores and although device manager shows them all, task manager only shows two. I spoke with Tyan (my motherboard manufacturer) and they said it should show up in the Task Manager. They said the reason it doesn't is because I'm using windows 7 Home Premium and that Home Premium doesn't support more than 2 cores. Any truth to this? I can't find info on the ms website about it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

That is TOTAL C R A P, Windows home premium is fully capable of supporting multi-core processors natively in either 32 or 64 bit install. Whomever told you this you need to call them back and tell them to go to school cause they are full of C R A P.

Here is proof it supports multi-cores from a MVP moderator who says so. I found it by doing a quick Google search for "Windows Home Premium and multi-core support". Take a look a the 2nd post:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7install/thread/566d8e98-5ff6-41ad-bd79-593f5afa3655

I'm sure if you dig deeper in MSDN (the online Microsoft Developers Network) u can find the specific white paper on all this but I have to say your Tyan tech support rep is full of c r a p and needs to go back to school.

Also, one thing I noticed is you said you have "2 dual cores". There is no such thing, you have a quad core not 2 duals. Dual means 2 and 2 + 2 = 4 last I checked. and 4 cores is represented as a quad not as 2 duals for clarities sake. You must have specificity when you are talking about components or you may loose ppl in helping them understand what you mean. Just a tip from me to u.

The recognition of the quad cores is handled by the OS and I have no idea why you are calling Tyan as they will have no clue what you are even doing if they do not even know the OS Premium supports a quad core processor. Leave them out of it, they are clueless. Deal with Microsoft Technical Support if you have to by going to this link and calling them. This is the link for phone and email support form Windows Home Premium and I bet you anything they will know how many cores their OS supports, lol Use this link to get support for what I mentioning in my original Post (OP) to get the OS to see your multicore processor.

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?st=1&as=1&as=1&tzone=300&gprid=14019&timestmp=634015831083231434&ps=1&acty=ProductList&ctl=productlist&wf=PID&trl=PID~ProductList&c=SMC&ln=en-us&prid=13193&gsaid=598988

The one thing I can say in Tyan's defense is that their motherboard may not be able to support a multi-core processor at worst case scenario. Although I doubt that but in any case, the OS is fully capable of supporting multi-cores. Not sure which Tyan mobo you have but that information Tyan should be able to provide you as to what core(s) processor their Mobo does support. Or their website should if they are worth their weight. If they can't, then god help us all, lol

OK, while your presumption of this person incorrectly identifying the CPU they have may be the most likely...your assertion is more supercilious than objective. it is possible to own a dual socket with a dual core in each. i still use a Opteron server with 2-dualcore CPU's thus 4 cores. calling Tyan may not be the single shot solution, it eliminates any possible issue that the motherboard has issues or in need of a BIOS upgrade and can answer any additional question pertaining to compatibility and/or known errata than may or may not have solutions being addressed or fixes available. ie "CPU recognition" is handled from information given from BIOS to the OS, and there can exists problems if the code is in need of updating to properly identify and operate a specific CPU, stepping etc.

on another note, i would like to ask for clarification. when upgrading from a single to multi core on a Windows 7 OS install (32 or 64) the aforementioned workaround is valid? in that all previous MS OS's that could multi thread required a new or "repair" installation in order to install the proper kernel. Windows 7 uses one kernel for single and multi threads??
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Anonymous

2010-05-13T17:10:45+00:00

I Have an other problem with multicore ...

I Have a new MoBo (Gigabite 890 GPA-UD3H 890 GX) with an AMD Phenom II x6 2800 MHz

OS: Win 7 Home Premium 32 Bit

The Bios recognise the Processor correct.

Windows recognise 6 Cores, but:

- AMD Processor Unknown 803 MHz

What can I do about that ??

edit: Solved :-) ... theire was an update of the system bios ... now win 7 recognise my CPU en everithing works normaly :-)
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Anonymous

2010-05-13T09:32:17+00:00

Okay everyone... ***HERE'S THE CORRECT ANSWER - PERIOD!!!!***And this *HAS* been verified by one one of the project managers involved in Windows 7.

Windows 7 Home Premium will **ONLY*** show multiple processors IF THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE :

Your machine has:

****** ONE (1) PHYSICAL processor that is a multi-core processor. ******IE: Duo-Core Intel Processor. Some of the HP Laptops that are out now are Quad-Core, ONE PROCESSOR, so that's why W7HP shows 4 processors.

MORE THAN ONE PHYSICAL PROCESSOR, Windows 7 Home Premium will ***NOT*** support it - PERIOD! W7HP will *ONLY* see the 1st processor & the core(s) of that one ONLY!

I installed Windows 7 Ultimate and right off the bat, without doing a thing, my machine showed 4 processors, where W7HP only showed 2. That's when I talked to one of my old customers about the issue, and he said Microsoft did this in order to keep business and other people from purchasing W7HP to run on Multi-Processor machines, without spending the additional money, and because W7HP was designed as a "low cost" entry level Windows 7 platform!

So for those on here that are having this issue, you need to figure out if your machine has ONE PHYSICAL processor with multi-cores, or if it's like mine with MORE THAN ONE PHYSICAL processor. If you only have one, then I would take "passionfly1"'s advice and get Microsoft involved if you are still within your time period. If you have MORE THAN ONE PHYSICAL processor inside your machine, you will have to upgrade to at LEAST Windows 7 Professional in order to utilize more than one physical processor. This is true for BOTH 32 & 64bit versions.

Hope this helps out a bit!

This is good information but this specific series of steps in the original post deals with upgrading your computer from a lesser amount of cores to a greater amount of cores in a physically single processor motherboard under Windows 7 Professional (of which I assume the majority of ppl on this thread seem to have). If you have multiple physical processors or are using the Home version (Windows Lite, lol), your mileage may vary in how successful these steps may take you.
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