"Multiprocessor Free" regardless of number of processors?

S

SalomonA

Bit poster
Hi,

I'm testing Parallels 4 for Mac and set up a Windows XP VM with a single processor to test its performance. I noticed that the system event log would register "Microsoft (R) Windows (R) 5.01. 2600 Service Pack 3 Uniprocessor Free". I benchmarked and tested applications and everything was fine.

I then changed the settings to allow the VM use 2 processors and noticed the system event log would register "Microsoft (R) Windows (R) 5.01. 2600 Service Pack 3 Multiprocessor Free". I benchmarked and tested applications and everything was fine and running even faster.

After I shutdown the VM and changed the preferences back to 1 processor, I noticed the system event log registered the boot up not with the uniprocessor kernel but the multiprocessor. All the while, the perceived performance hit rock bottom: XP turned slow as molasses.

I did boot up and shutdown tens of times and it never reverted to the uniprocessor kernel on its own (only by creating a new VM and reinstalling XP). Is this a Windows problem or a Parallels problem?
 
That's both problems. XP won't revert properly all by itself to the right kernel and Parallels Desktop won't really help. I have read many work-around for this, but have personally only found two to work: (1) set it back to 2 processors, or (2) while configured for single processor re-install Windows on top of it (will offer to repair the existing configuration and migrate registry).
 
sorry to jump in here
but where and how do I set my VM to have 2 processors ??
I have a dual core macbook, but my WinXP VM shows just a single processor
 
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