Vostro 200 ; Intel VT feature not present in the BIOS

BabyTechKeon,

You don't see it in the Bios- Advanced BIOS Features- CPU Feature?

Hi Chris, Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the feature is not listed under the BIOS category you mentioned.

Now i'm thinking if the feature will not be present since my friend purchased the system with a processor that does not have a VT feature.

Any further help would really be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi Chris, just want to check if you have any update on this.

Thanks!

Nope. To what CPU did he upgrade?

Vostro 200

1. What was the old processor S Spec

2. What is the New processor S Spec

3. What is the bios version?

4. Did you clear cmos after installing the new processor?

I Do not See " INTEL VT " but I do see (Virtualization Technology—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default) )

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

Clearing CMOS Settings

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.

NOTE: The computer must be disconnected from the electrical outlet to clear the CMOS setting.

1. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
2. 1. Locate the 3-pin CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) on the system board (see System Board Components).
   1. Remove the jumper plug from the CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) pins 2 and 3.
   2. Place the jumper plug on the CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately five seconds.
   3. Remove the jumper plug and replace it on the CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) pins 2 and 3.
3. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer.

1. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.

Hi Chris and SpeedStep, thanks for the replies and I really appreciate em'

The original Processor is an Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 which does not have the Intel VT feature and the current one is an Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 which has the Intel VT feature.

BIOS Info 1.0.15 06/23/2008 (same as the one on support)
Service Tag XXXXXXX
Processor Type Intel Core 2 CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz
Processor L2 Cache 6144KB

Thanks!

Could Be that the Bios doesnt recognize the newer CPU ID or that the chipset on the motherboard doesnt support 45nm technology.

I still don't see that you cleared the cmos and reset the bios to defaults.

S SPEC on an E2180 would be SL8AY or similar

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLA8Y

Package Type: LGA775
Manufacturing Technology: 65 nm
Core Stepping: M0
CPUID String: 06FDh

Supported Features: Dual Core
Enhanced Intel Speedstep® Technology
Intel® EM64T 1
Enhanced Halt State (C1E)
Execute Disable Bit 2
Intel® Thermal Monitor 2

 SPEC on an E8500 would be SLAPK or similar

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAPK

Package Type: LGA775
Manufacturing Technology: 45 nm
Core Stepping: C0
CPUID String: 10676h

Supported Features:

Thanks for posting back, Speed.

We already tried to load the default settings of the BIOS as well as clear the CMOS to no avail. I'm not sure if this should be related to CPU IDs nor the 45nm technology support since the system is working great and no other problems are seen.

Is it possible that they removed the feature coz the initial processor didn't have the Intel VT feature? if so that would disappoint me as it shouldn't be removed much more could just be disabled.

Or could be that the motherboard that they used on the system does not have the feature? Anyone knows how many types of motherboards are available for a Vostro 200 system?

There is only one motherboard, WK785.

I recently purchased a 530s with the E7400 and now realized that I should have bought the E8400.  Does anyone know if I'll have the same issue if I get the E8400 now?

Thanks,

-Ed

I have a similar problem.  I have a Vostro 200 desktop.  I bought it with an E4600 processor (no virtualization).  I wanted to load the Windows XP VM inside of Windows 7, so I upgraded to an E7600 processor (supports virtualization).  Unfortunately the CMOS does not have a virtualization setting under advanced BIOS/ CPU feature, or any other options that I can find and Windows says it is not enabled.

I have BIOS 1.0.15 installed and I verified that is was cleared - I had to reset the date.

Some of the posts suggest that there should be a virtualization in the CPU feature section.  Mine has:

• Limit CPUID Value—Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
• Execute Disable Bit—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
• Core Multi-Processing—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)

Is the BIOS smart enough to examine the MOBO and determine what options should be provided?  Seems very strange.

Help! - Thanks in advance.

I had similar problem...spent days on the phone with tech support saying that my Vostro 200 mini tower should support VT chips.  I started with BIOS 1.0.13, saw the new E8400 processor I put in but did not give me option to enable virtualization in the CMOS.  Tech support asked if I had the newest version of the BIOS, no I didn't, upgraded BIOS to 1.0.15 with same result, no virtualization option showing up in Advanced features/CPU Features.  Spent more time via chat and phone with tech support and they finally said I must have a bad mother board.  Hum, I own 20 of these machines and can't get it to work in the half dozen I've tried but oh well.  Two days later (I have next day support) tech shows up with new mother board, pops in the E8400 processor and bingo virtualization option is there and works perfect.  Screwy thing, it has BIOS verion 1.0.16 dated 9/20/2008.  Called tech support back to see how we can get BIOS 1.0.16 assuming that might be the magic we need and they say it doesn't exist yet I'm staring at it in front of me.  Anyway, I'm in the process of giving them my other systems service tag numbers in same shipment and see where I go from here.

New motherboard is G33M02  rev A01 just like the one it had best I can tell....however...new board when it boots dispays the Energy Star compliance logo and original board didn't.

FYI, I have some older Vostro 200 mini towers with BIOS version 1.0.3 and when I put the E8400 processor in them they do recognize the virtualization when you go into the CMOS but they don't recognize the L2 cache.  I upgraded the BIOS to 1.0.15 and the L2 cache is now available however virtualization option in CMOS disappears.

Not sure if this helps anyone but FYI virtualization option can become available with the right combination of motherboard and BIOS I guess.

Thanks a lot for your response.  It sounds to me that somewhere between BIOS version 1.0.3 and 1.0.13  the virtualization option got removed.  It must have gotten put back in in version 1.0.16, which is not released, but somehow showed up on your new motherboard. 

I just can't believe it is a defective motherboard causing the problem unless it was a design problem in a whole lot of them. 

I did find a BIOS version 1.0.16 for Inspiron desktop models 530 and 530S on the Dell website.  On further research, it looks like the Inspiron 530 and Vostro 200 use the same, or very similar MOBOs - the Foxcomm G33M.   I'll bet they shipped you a motherboard that had been provisioned for the Inspiron, and has the same part number as the Vostro motherboard.  So, I wonder why  BIOS 1.0.16 released for Inspiron, but not Vostro?

I'm tempted to try it, but I think I better find out for sure if it will work with my system.

It would sure be nice to get some answers from Dell.

Thanks again.

Great work Manoug!  I knew the answer was near there somewhere, but you pushed it through to completion.  I will try and upgrade later today.  I wonder why Dell doesn't just release 1.0.16 for the Vostro?  No time or budget for that I guess.

Thanks for everyone’s posts, and I finally found a fix/answer to the problem and was able to successfully enable Intel VT technology, read below for complete details...

So basically I had a Vostro 200 slim tower with an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.13Ghz CPU which I upgraded the processor to the Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93Ghz processor thinking that the option for Intel VT would display in the BIOS after installing the processor. After installing the CPU it detected it successfully and I went into the BIOS and hunted for the VT and unfortunately wasn’t available!! So I rebooted the machine booted Windows and ran the Intel® Processor Identification Utility  and after selecting the "CPU Technologies" tab, the Intel Virtualization Technology  displayed ‘No’

Well I didn’t give up hope and thanks to this thread I read that the Inspiron 530 series did have the feature in the BIOS and I was aware that the Inspiron 530 and Vostro 200 share the same platform. So I said ok, well then I will just try loading the Inspiron 530 1.0.16 BIOS onto my machine (Vostro 200). So I downloaded the updated BIOS from Dell ran the installer and it recognized the older BIOS (1.0.15) however when I went to start the upgrade – nope upgrade disabled to machine mismatch

So after a little brainstorming I came up with a great idea, I remember back when I purchased the Vostro 200, RAID 0 option was not available by Dell and I wanted a workaround well after a little googling I came across this guy http://thelostbrain.com/post/2007/12/Raid-0,-1-,-5,-0-1-support-Dell-Vostro-200--400-and-Inspiron-530--530s-machines!-(Finally).aspx who was able to successfully enable RAID 0 functionality using a modified BIOS...So wait a second, what happens if I download this guy's modified BIOS which was orientated for the Inspiron 530 and try loading it on the Dell Vostro 200? So I pulled the trigger and downloaded the Inspiron 530 1.0.16 version here http://thelostbrain.com/file.axd?file=AllRaid-Inspiron-530%2b530s-1016.zip and after extracting it I ran WINFLASH.bat it started the process and to my delight it successfully loaded the BIOS. After the upgrade completed I rebooted the computer and when the DELL splash screen appeared, it displayed 1.0.16!!!!! I proceeded to hit F2 for Setup to enter the BIOS and sure enough under the CPU features the VT technology was available – YES!!

It rebooted and it started to load Windows and it did need to find all the hardware again and do Plug and Play (running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 RTM) So just a word of caution as you may want to do a clean install of the OS, however your mileage may vary.

After the system loaded Windows, I reran the Intel Processor Identification Utility and sure enough clear as day Intel Virtualization Technology displayed, you guessed it ‘Yes’ – Excellent!!

Thanks,

Manoug
http://www.manoug.net