AMD Sempron 145 unlocking help?

[Larval Extract]

I'm sure this kind of question has cropped up many times, but I'm new to this forum (hey everyone! ) so be nice

I have an AMD Sempron 145 which I have attempted to unlock on a Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-US2H motherboard. I'm not sure if the core works or not... When I first set up the system, it did not yet have a hard drive, so I decided to run a live copy of Linux (Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit) via USB. At this time, the second core was unlocked, the BIOS would post and recognize it as an AMD Athlon II X2 4450e, and Linux would work flawlessly with both cores active and the System Information monitor would also see it as an AMD Athlon.

But then Windows came along...

So the other day I ordered a simple SATA II 250GB hard drive and attempted to install Windows 7 64-bit to it using a USB. The USB method didn't work, so instead I just borrowed an optical drive and installed Windows that way. When I installed it with the USB, I do believe the second core was active but I may have disabled it due to assuming that was why the USB method didn't work, and when I installed with the optical disc, I think I may have left the core off. At this point, Windows installed perfectly fine (with a disc and with the second core OFF). Now here is the problem: With the second core switched on, the motherboard posts and recognizes the dual core, but Windows does not, under any circumstance, boot. It gets to where it says "Windows is starting up..." but the animated Windows logo doesn't show and then shortly after the PC just reboots and keeps repeating this. If I revert back to single core, the PC boots perfectly without issue.

This instantly makes me believe the the second core is defect and that I should just give up trying to unlock it. And yes, I'm aware that pretty much all Semprons are dual cores with 1 core deactivated because either:
a) the core is defect
b) to meet marketing demands

But a live copy of Linux did work and was recognized perfectly fine...

So, uhh, any suggestions? Is the core just ****** and only worked on Linux because it was a live OS? (duno how that would work, but hey) Or is the second core maybe okay (lol English) if I change some things?

I have tried:
- Increasing Vcore voltage
- Decreasing CPU speed
- Safe mode
- Disabling the second core (Windows worked perfectly fine this way)

Would reinstalling Windows make a difference? I read up somewhere that some multi processor AHPI driver or something needs to be installed for it to work through device manager. If it helps, the device manager does see the CPU as a single core AMD Sempron 145, so when I unlock it, does this screw up? I duno, I'm awful with software.

Thanks all!

 

[pandem0nium]

For me I can quite happily go from 4 cores to 6 cores in bios and boot to windows 7 without any issues. for me it downloaded drivers automatically when I booted with the disabled cores on and was considered AMD processor unknown.

Everything I'd suggest, it seems you have already done.

Should have gone for the 190, it's only a pound more

 

[JonSmith]

Re-installing windows with both cores active might in fact work, you may as well give it a try.

 

[Larval Extract]

Awww I never saw that D:

4 cores to 6? What CPU is that? :O

 

[Larval Extract]

Nope, reinstalling Windows with both cores active does not work. I guess it's just buggered.

 

[d_brennen]

You did a full wipe and reinstall and not a repair/in place install? When Windows sees one CPU during setup it installs with the uniprocessor HAL rather than multiprocessor (or iirc that was the case, haven't used a single core CPU for YEARS). Uniprocessor HAL trying to control multiprocessor hardware would not work out well I imagine. It's an odd one. If Windows does not work out maybe try a full install of Linux, I use Debian with LXDE on several low spec machines without any headaches, although the cheap 32GB SSDs really help

pandem0nium is probably referring to the Phenom II X6 or FX series 6 or 8 core CPUs. Some boards have the option to disable cores

 

[pandem0nium]

I have a phenom II 960T.

Its a hex core thuban chip with two cores disabled, but can be unlocked through the bios.