5 Nov
2007
5 Nov
'07
1:07 p.m.
On 5 Nov 2007 at 12:34, woodelf wrote:
Not really. The BIOS functions SUCK. The whole point
of a OS is to
do all that.
How so? Particularly how so when using the 32-bit extended BIOS
funtions or the INT 15H multitasking extensions? How about the Plug-
and-play extensions or ACPI?
Even in the bad old big iron days, controllers had their firmware and
you were stuck with whatever the firmware writer decided to
implement.
The BIOS functions aren't all that bad when it comes to implementing
something. You get a basic set for getting a simple OS loader going.
If you want to use your own drivers after the system is loaded,
that's your lookout--the PC architecture doesn't force you to use the
BIOS.
Even Unix/Linux/OS2/Windoze uses the BIOS to get started. You'd
never get most PCI cards off the ground if it weren't for the BIOS.
Cheers,
Chuck