Use Device Manager to Switch from Uniprocessor to Multiprocessor Support

  • Article

Kartik Raghavan

Program Manager for Setup, Windows 2000 Development Team

December 8, 1999

A lot of people don't know this yet: You can easily go from uniprocessor (UP) to multiprocessor (MP) support in Windows 2000 by using the Device Manager. (To do this in Windows NT 4.0, you have to use a Resource Kit utility called uptomp, or reinstall the operating system.)

The steps are:

  • In Control Panel, click System, choose the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager button.

  • Select the Computer node and expand it.

  • Double-click the object listed there (on my system, it is called Standard PC), then choose the Driver tab. Click the Update Driver button.

  • On the Upgrade Device Driver Wizard, click the Next button, then select Display a known list of drivers for this device so that I can choose a specific driver. Click the Next button.

  • On the Select Device Driver page, select Show all hardware of this device class.

  • Select the HAL that matches your new configuration, multiprocessor or uniprocessor. Click the Next button. Check that the wizard is showing the configuration you want, then click the Next button to complete the wizard.

Works with Windows 2000 Professional and Server.