How to Add Support for Multiple Processors in Windows 2000

ID: Q234558

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SUMMARY

Windows 2000 provides support for single or multiple Central Processing Units (CPU). However, if you originally installed Windows 2000 on a computer with a single CPU, the HAL on your computer must be updated for it to be able to recognize and use multiple CPUs.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, the Uptomp.exe tool can be used to add support for multiple CPUs. The Uptomp.exe tool is no longer used in Windows 2000, instead, you can use Device Manager to make these changes. Note that before changing the computer type, contact your computer manufacturer to determine if there is a vendor-specific HAL you should use instead of the standard ones included in Windows 2000. To install support for multiple CPUs:

Click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click System.

Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.

Double-click the Computer branch to expand it. Note the type of support you currently have.

Double-click the computer type listed under the Computer branch, click the Drivers tab, click Update Driver, and then click Next.

Click Display a list of known drivers for this device, and then click Show all hardware of this device class.

Click the appropriate computer type (one that matches your current type, except for multiple CPUs), click Next, and then click Finish.

The following table lists and describes each HAL.


HAL                  Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACPI MultiProc       Use for Multiprocessor ACPI systems.
ACPI UniProc         Use for ACPI Multiprocessor board but with a single
                     processor installed.
Advanced
Configuration
Power Interface PC   Use for Single processor motherboard with single
                     processor ACPI system.
Compaq Systempro     Use for Compaq Systempro computers.
MPS Uniprocessor PC  Use on non ACPI systems dual processor motherboard
                     with a single processor installed.
MPS Multiproc PC     Non ACPI systems with a dual processor running
Standard PC          Any Standard PC, non-ACPI, or nonMPS. Could be a 386,
                     486, Pentium, or Pentium II / III.
Standard PC 
with C-Step i486

NOTE: You can use this procedure only to upgrade from a single-processor HAL to a multiple-processor HAL. If you use this procedure to change from a standard HAL to an ACPI HAL (for example, after a BIOS upgrade) or vice-versa, unexpected results may occur, including an inability to boot the computer. For information about troubleshooting Windows 2000 HAL issues, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q237556 Troubleshooting Windows 2000 Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues

Additional query words: hall.dll smp

Keywords : kbhw kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto