k7-smp kernel help

[Kenny]

Matthew Kuiken wrote:
> Kenny wrote:
>> OK, I have been at this for about 6 hours now.
>>
>> I have an AMD X2 4400+ dual core processor. I have been trying to use 
>> the k7-smp kernel so that I can actually use both of my cores. I went 
>> into synaptic package manager, and of course it automatically chooses 
>> all of the latest pieces needed, including the appropriate restricted 
>> modules (I have 2 7800GTX's in SLI mode, so I need the Nvidia drivers).
>>
>> It all downloads and installs fine (the kernel that it defaults to 
>> download is 2.6.15.25-k7). But after about 2-5 minutes of use after I 
>> boot into this kernel and log in, my entire computer locks up. Mouse 
>> doesn't move, keyboard shortcuts don't respond. I have to manually 
>> reboot with the power button. Reminds me of the days of Windows 3.1.
>>
>> So I thought that I would step it back and get the previous kernel 
>> (2.6.15-23-k7). But when I try to download it, synaptic wants to 
>> automatically put all of the latest software with it that depend on 
>> the newer kernel. I couldn't get it to cooperate, so I figured, what 
>> the hell, I'll try it.
>>
>> I reboot, choose the older kernel, and after the Ubuntu loading 
>> screen, I get the X failure screen telling me that it couldn't start 
>> X. I figured that this was because the restricted modules wanted to 
>> work with the newer kernel and not this one.
>>
>> So I reboot again, this time to the newer k7 kernel (2.6.15-25-k7) 
>> only to find that after the Ubuntu loading screen, nothing gets sent 
>> to my monitor. My LCD power light goes orange dictating that it is no 
>> longer recieving a signal from my video cards.
>>
>> The only way I can work in Ubuntu is to use the latest 386 kernel, 
>> and that sucks because I'm running on only half of my physical cpu 
>> hardware.
>>
>> Is there a better way to do this? I've tried the sudo apt-get, but it 
>> does the same exact thing as synaptic, getting all of the latest 
>> stuff, not letting me have anything older.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> Kenny
>>
> You may want to try the 686 kernel.  It also has SMP enabled.  It may 
> not be as optimized for your processor, but it should still allow you 
> to use both.  Hopefully it will be a bit more stable.
>
> HTH,
> -Matt
>
>
Thanks, I gave it a shot but unfortunately it was even less stable than 
the k7 version.  What's up with dual core in Linux?