27 Apr
2007
27 Apr
'07
1:04 a.m.
On 26 Apr 2007 at 16:31, Chris M wrote:
So 3.1 (and I'm assuming here you don't mean
NT 3.1)
runs in real mode, yet is multitasking? I guess I'm
tired maybe...
No, it runs in protected mode, except for a fair amount of I/O, when
it switches to real mode. A fair amount of 95 was that way, too.
You can delete the floppy VXD from 95 and it'll just use the real-
mode BIOS for diskette I/O without batting an eyeball (or giving an
error message). Same goes for devices for which you've loaded real-
mode drivers in your config.sys file.
Because DOS is a known quantity running in real mode with no
protections, it's simple to set up your own descriptors and gates and
launch your own protected mode app than having to figure out what
someone else is doing.
Of course, there's also 32-bit real mode if you like to fool
around...
Cheers,
Chuck