2 processors

i have recently acquired an alienware laptop area-51 m9750 running windows 7 premium.
on the normal startup the laptop will run for about 5 minutes before it goes black. on safe mode startup it has not gone black even after being on for hours.
i checked device manager for any issues and noticed there are 2 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz listed.
my question is should there be 2 processors listed? and if not does it matter which one i uninstall.
thank you
whirl

 

If there are two cores, it should be listed twice in Device Manager. Don't mess with that.

This sounds like a software issue. First, I would download the latest software/drivers, but do not install the package. After that, completely uninstall all software with RevoUninstaller. Then uninstall the GPU driver in Device Manager.

Reboot, and then install the latest drivers/software which you downloaded. Let us know how it works out.

 

thank you.
i will work on this in the next couple of days and let you know how it went.
thank you
smile
whril

 

all went well except for 1 issue. device manager shows the display adapter as being the standard vga graphics adapter instead of the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX. have tried installing the drivers with no success.
thanks
whril

 

Go directly to nVidia for the total package for your card.

 

i tried that the nvidia site. the only driver that was compatible with windows 7 resulted in a black screen when restarting and/or the bsod.

i also tried an updater program (slimware). it did update the standard vga graphics adapter to the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX. but upon restart the result was the same. black screen and bsod.

thanks
whril

 

Who manufactured the card?

XFX, EVGA, etc...

 

i am guessing dell did since it is an alienware. is there a way i can check for sure?
thanks

 

You can download, and run Speccy:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/speccy.html

 

ran the speccy.
nvidia is the manufacturer.
earlier than i thought the release date is october of 2006.
thanks

 

It doesn't state in parentheses after the card info who the manufacturer is?

 

oh, i'm sorry i see that now! i was only looking under the graphics not at the summary. it says 512MB NVIDIA Standard VGA Graphics Adapter (Rioworks).
thanks
whril

 

I don't think you will find RioWorks drivers anymore. At least not from them.


Have you gone directly to Dell with your Service Tag for the software/drivers?

 

no i haven't. i did download drivers from there, which gave me the black screen etc. i will try with the service tag and let you know.
thanks
whril

 

You could also try the package directly from nVidia:

http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/8972/en-us


There is also a specific BIOS update regarding this card:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/recommended_software_updates.html

 

none of those packages worked either.
what i did discover tho is that particular video card is not supported in windows 7.
thank you so much for trying tho, i really appreciate it!

smile
whril

 

Did you try installing them via "Compatibility Mode"?

You can install older software in W7 by emulating earlier operating systems. It often does work.

 

oh i knew that and did not even think of trying! that is why you guys are so awesome! will try that when i get a chance.
thanks!
smile
whril

 

compatibility mode did not work either. same result as the other attempts. the graphics are not outstanding but are acceptable on the standard vga graphic drivers so i will count my blessings and leave it at that.
thank you so very much for your help.
smile
whril