Just FYI in case the proccy is not bad etc.. you guys might want to try these steps.
1. Start > Run > Msconfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > check the no. of processors (change if wrongly shown).
2. Possibility of corrupt HAL or a hungover HAL. (HAL = Hardware Abstraction Layer)
Steps to correct HAL issues in Windows Vista :
Start > Run > Msconfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > check Detect HAL option and reboot the system > check in device manager if the other 2 cores have been detected. Once detected, uncheck the Detect HAL option.
You can also check in Device manager if the Computer is showing Uniprocessor or Multiprocessor or ACPI x64...
I ve been through a similar situation when i had bought my Q9450 after running E8400 on the same motherboard. The HAL did not update itself to detect 2 more cores, hence it was only showing 2 cores instead of 4 cores in all the possible places.
We need to manually force the HAL to detect the 2 cores by checking Detect HAL at startup/reboot.
Suprisingly, even a fresh reinstall of Windows will not rectify this problem. It needs to be done manually.
I know the OP had a bad proccy, but this is for other people who face similar issue and that they could try this as a last resort before getting the processor replaced
Hope this helps !
1. Start > Run > Msconfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > check the no. of processors (change if wrongly shown).
2. Possibility of corrupt HAL or a hungover HAL. (HAL = Hardware Abstraction Layer)
Steps to correct HAL issues in Windows Vista :
Start > Run > Msconfig > Boot tab > Advanced options > check Detect HAL option and reboot the system > check in device manager if the other 2 cores have been detected. Once detected, uncheck the Detect HAL option.
You can also check in Device manager if the Computer is showing Uniprocessor or Multiprocessor or ACPI x64...
I ve been through a similar situation when i had bought my Q9450 after running E8400 on the same motherboard. The HAL did not update itself to detect 2 more cores, hence it was only showing 2 cores instead of 4 cores in all the possible places.
We need to manually force the HAL to detect the 2 cores by checking Detect HAL at startup/reboot.
Suprisingly, even a fresh reinstall of Windows will not rectify this problem. It needs to be done manually.
I know the OP had a bad proccy, but this is for other people who face similar issue and that they could try this as a last resort before getting the processor replaced
Hope this helps !