Windows Server 2003 May Not Use Multiple Processors with Some Pentium Pro or Pentium II Processors (319091)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
This article was previously published under Q319091

SYMPTOMS

If you install Windows Server 2003 on some dual-processor or multiple-processor servers, the server may run with only one processor. This may occur if the server uses some Pentium Pro or Pentium II processors.

If you upgrade a Microsoft Windows 2000-based server or a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0-based server to Windows Server 2003, you may receive an "Unsupported Multiprocessor Configuration" warning when you upgrade a Pentium Pro or Pentium II dual-processor or multiple-processor server that uses one of these processors.

CAUSE

Intel discovered that if you use Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors in computers that have two or more processors, the translation lookaside buffer may be corrupted. The corruption of the lookaside buffer may cause computer instability, data corruption, or other unpredictable results.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, contact the server manufacturer to determine whether you can upgrade the processors in the server.

MORE INFORMATION

To Check Your Server During the Upgrade Process

To check your server after you upgrade:
  1. Run Setup to start the Windows Server 2003 installation.
  2. On the first Setup screen, click Check system compatibility, and then click Check my system automatically to start the compatibility check.
If this issue affects your server, Setup informs you that your dual-processor or multiple-processor server will run with only one processor if you continue with the upgrade.

To Check Your Server After You Upgrade

To check your server after you upgrade, click Start, click Run, type winmsd, and then click OK. In the Item box, if the value next to Processor is "Processor x86 Family 6" and "Model 1" or "Model 3," your server is running with only one processor. You can either run your server with only one processor, or you can reinstall the previous operating system to run with more than one processor.

The issue affects the following processors:
  • x86 Family 6 Model 1 Stepping X GenuineIntel (where X = 1, 2, 6, 7, or 9)
  • x86 Family 6 Model 3 Stepping X GenuineIntel (where X = 3 or 4)
When you use these processors, when you perform the compatibility check after your upgrade, you may receive the following message: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family of operating systems and the processors in this system do not operate together in a multiprocessor configuration.

The upgrade will continue, but Windows Server 2003 will operate in a single-processor configuration after installation is complete. The Upgrade.txt file contains this message if you perform the upgrade.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbprb KB319091
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