How to Enable AMD PowerNow! Functionality for a New Installation of Windows XP (815624)

SUMMARY

By default, Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) do not enable AMD PowerNow! technology for AMD PowerNow!-capable AMD Athlon and AMD Duron processors. To enable AMD PowerNow!, you must install the latest processor driver from Windows Update.

Note The necessary driver support for PowerNow! technology is already configured on most systems sold by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

MORE INFORMATION

If you are using an AMD PowerNow!-enabled system and you reinstall Windows XP, you must download the latest Microsoft Processor driver from Windows Update to enable AMD PowerNow!. The default Processor driver (Processr.sys) installed with Windows XP does not enable AMD PowerNow!. If you experience symptoms such as decreased battery life or increased processor temperatures, this may indicate that you must update the Processor driver on the system. Also note that when you install SP1 for Windows XP, this does not switch the Processor drivers even though there is an updated driver in the service pack.

At the time that this article was written, the following is the latest Processor driver in Windows Update:

Microsoft Processor Driver Version 5.1.2600.1152

To obtain the latest Processor driver, use the Scan for Updates feature in Windows Update. The Processor driver is listed in the Drivers Updates section after the scan is completed.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

REFERENCES

For additional information about Amdk7.sys, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

318891 AMD PowerNow! Technology Support for Windows XP

330512 The Processor Performance State Is Not Restored to the Maximum State If the CPU Runs at 100 Percent

306458 AMD PowerNow! Functionality May Require a Driver for AMD Mobile Athlon 4 and Duron Processors with Windows XP

316676 "STOP 0x0000000A" Error Message When You Change from AC Power to DC Power

323154 Mobile Processor May Remain on "High" After Resuming from Standby

330512 The Processor Performance State Is Not Restored to the Maximum State If the CPU Runs at 100 Percent

813383 You Cannot Use AMD PowerNow! Technology Power Management Features