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Switching to Protected Mode
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:00 am
by Pela Kiu
Hello, I am new in OSDEV. I've studiyng OS and a little of the i386 hardware, but things get really complicated when it comes to protected mode. The questions is, Can anybody explain (I know it's no piece of cake) how the i386 is switch to protected mode at boot time. Also I'm not very sure on the definition and use of the GDT, LDT, IDT, TSS etc.
Re: Switching to Protected Mode
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 12:00 am
by JAAman
get the intel manuals:
[url="http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium4/manuals/index_new.htm#sdm_vol1"]
## ---- ----- ------ Intel Manuals[/url]
you can download it or order it in hard-copy (its free) it does a very good job explaining all this and more -- don't be intimidated by the size of the books there is a lot of information in there
ps: the one you will use the most is book #3 its the one that explains all those questions you asked, everything neccessary to build an OS and BIOS for the x86 (mostly focusing on PMode and LMode)