Mysterious Loss of a Core

My Gaming computer (ancient 6core 1100T AMD) had slowed down over time but hadn't noticed because of using a laptop and decreased gaming and all Malware/AV scans came up clean.
Finally noticed only 5 cores on the Windows Task Manager Performance Tab!?!?!?. Tried to enter Bios to see what's up and it asked for a Password!!! What? I never set a Bios Password!
So, turned off computer, pulled the battery out after pulling the 7970G, reassembled and hoped for the best.
Reset all the overclocking settings that had been used for the last 4? years, restarted the rig and Aaaaah, back in service.
So has anyone else experienced this? Some kind of Hijack?
Thsnks for reading.

 

Well I got moved from Malware. I guess he never heard of a BiosVirus. Wonder why they put passwords on Bios decades ago...

http://***********.com/security/201...erious-mac-and-pc-malware-that-jumps-airgaps/

You'll have to google badBios, ***********. Can't post links...

 

BIOS viruses are very rare. At best, this sounds like a shoddy attempt at one if it was reset so easily. Normally a flash of the BIOS is required, and it's preferable if your PROM is removable. Removal usually means disconnecting the HDD, and creating a bootable CD or flash drive on a separate computer to flash the drive. Or, if your PROM is removable, flashing it with another PC.