Hi, is there an easy test to check if your system is properly using the two CPU cores? In other words: how to find out if WindowsXP has the Dual Core hotfix properly working? I believe that I have the hotfix installed but I suspect that it is not working OK. I need to do a test before I do a complete OS reinstall. What should I look for and what is a good way to test the machine? Looking for core activity in the Task Manager? _

You "Believe" you have the hot-fix installed? Did you check? I Googled and found this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sho... "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

The 2nd core kicks in on an as-needed basis. The majority of the time you'll only be using one core.

Ctrl-Alt-Del --> Performance. I have a dual core processor and have two windows in the CPU area. One for each core. Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. - Isaac Asimov

@seawatch, I have two cores in the Task Manager too. But they both only reach 50% of load and stay there, no matter what programs I'm running. The two cores never load over 50%. Having two cores that work at 50% each is like having only one core that works at 100%. That's why I thought that something was wrong. And I still don't know what the problem is.

Well, I have to admit, I may be in over my head here. But I believe that we are used to using much less of the power of our computers than is available. But someone may come along who can shed more light on this for us. Larry Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. - Isaac Asimov