Cpu Quad Core Problem..

I have an intel quad core q6600 2.4ghz CPU. I formatted my computer with my new hard ware installed (mobo, PSU, CPU, 4gb ram) and installed a 30 day trial of win xp home. My XP --- CD was at residence so I had to format again with a real copy when I got back to residence. I noticed when I was in the task manager looking under the performance tab at the CPU usage, it had 4 graphs representing each core on my CPU. This was when I was using Win XP home.

I get back to residence, format again but using XP ----- this time. when i formatted i get a different BSOD (blue screen of death) error every time no matter what. But, its always the same solution. During the installation process of XP it says hit f6 to setup RAID drivers and hit f2 to do something else. when i see that i hit f5 to get into another menu. At which point i THINK i chose 'standard PC' (the 1st option). Now heres my problem - i look at the CPU usage under the task manager and it only shows 1 graph. The bios recognizes its the intel quad core..going into run > 'dxdiag' knows its a quad core, BUT, every program or benchmark test only tells me i have 1 physical/logical processor installed... So I dont know if im actually getting the full quad core enabled. I have HT enabled in the bios as well. But in order to see the HT option in the BIOS, I had to enable MAX CPUID or something like that (which it says not to enable on XP, but I did neways =\... )

Any help would be appreciated. I am in 3D animation and need to get the most out of my CPU when im rendering my projects!
I hope this makes sense

 

run winprime and compare scores, you'll know dang well if it's utilizing all four cores as it scales almost perfectly.

 

where can I find winprime?

 

http://www.users.on.net/~weigner/wprime_158.zip
time should be under 20 seconds for a quad

 

82 seconds for the speed test

and after 20 seconds on the performance it was only 1% done...

 

then it's not using all four cores.

reinstall winblows.

 

What is winblows mate?

 

well, EVERY time i install windows, i always get an error. But to fix that error i hit f5 (during the part is asks you to hit f2/f6 for RAID or something else). When I hit f5 I have to select 'standard PC'.

and because I select standard PC, apparently it doesn't detect quad core.

So re-installing windows wont help...

 

the solution is to download a winblows disc which is the exact same as your but uncorrupted and to use your key for it.

a nickname for a mediocre operating system which just so happens to have the best 3rd party support in the industry and as such is the only serious choice for the bulk of the populous

 

in that case, I might just juice some money out of my rents for vista 64 bit....

 

Select Multiproccesor when installing.