OEMs fail to configure Windows XP for dual-core systems

OEMS ARE RELEASING dual-core machines onto the market without correctly configuring them.

According to Notebook Review, Windows XP machines being shipped from the big retail stores with SP2 on board are not configured correctly.

The site names Sager as one OEM which does not configure this hotfix for their Dual Core notebooks. Machines at BestBuy, Fry's, CircuitCity have also been found unmodified.

Apparently Windows XP2 does not automatically sniff out whether or not a dual-core processor is being used and the configuration has to be done manually. Failure to do so results in some games such as Oblivion being tiggered.

The site provides a hotfix here. µ