How to make Windows 2008 R2 see 4 CPU cores, with two single core processors , Hyperthreading enabled

central-processing-unithyperthreadingwindows-server-2008-r2

I had server with old Xeon DP and Windows 2008 R2 , With hyperthreading enabled OS saw 2 CPU cores. Recently I've added second same Xeon DP , but OS steel sees 2 CPU cores.
I did uninstall all cpu's as in Microsoft KB (tried reinstall also).

The situation is : Two same processors are in server.

  • When hyperyhreading is enabled, OS sees 1 processor (in system info
    window) with 2 CPU cores (in task manager). (device manager shows 4
    CPUs)

  • When HyperThreading is disabled, OS sees 2 processors (in system info
    windows) with 2 CPU cores (in task manager). (device manager shows 2
    CPUs)

How to make Windows 2008 R2 see 4 CPU cores, with two single core hyperthreading-enabled processors ?

Best Answer

After hours of digging into ways to change HAL in Win2008R2, I've met advice in technet to another question to edit advanced boot setting via msconfig (lowering cpu number , concerning that exact question).

I did following: run msconfig.exe under boot tab click advanced options and unchecked "Number of Processors" checkbox. It was checked with number 2 (maximum allowed number present in list) before.

Then I rebot and voila! Have 4 cores present in Task Manager. Have 4 numbers available in the list in "Number of Processors" in advanced options in msconfig.

Shaitan Have no idea why and when boot options were changed before problem arises but now everything is ok.