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4 votes
4 answers
2k views

The move to protected mode on x86 [closed]

When I learned programming, the programmer of the CPU had direct memory access. That is, the Z80, the 8086/8088, 6502, and so on. I don't know of any real use of the 186, but at least the 286 ...
ABM K's user avatar
  • 472
24 votes
4 answers
4k views

How can a 32-bit x86 CPU start with reset vector 0xFFFFFFF0 even though it starts in 16-bit real mode?

As far as I know, x86 CPUs start up in 16-bit 'real' mode (maybe some don't). The reset vector is 0xFFFFFFF0 (in most CPUs and in this context) In this 16-bit real mode, we can only access 16 bit ...
Example person's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are .COM executable binaries real mode or protected mode?

Windows and DOS binary executable files with the .EXE extension have an MZ header in them and nowadays also a PE header. But before these there used to also be .COM binary executable files and they ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 6,938
9 votes
5 answers
4k views

How does the ‘real mode flat model’ work?

I am interested in old Intel processors. I'll try to be as concise as possible. I have been studying both Jeff Duntemann's Assembly Language Step-by-Step - Chapter 4 and Modes of Memory Addressing on ...
Ady's user avatar
  • 139