"James Harris" <james.harris.1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:61e3ae1d-5797-4fa0-901c-f74dec70eb75@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I'm nearing the point of first compile tests. Nothing fancy, just a
> few arithmetic operations to start with.
>
> Problem is, I want the code to be 32-bit and not tied to a particular
> OS.
>
> I'm planning to compile to NASM - so that when the machine code starts
> it is already in 32-bit mode - and wanting initially to test under
> Windows. Would I need something like MinGW to provide a 32-bit command
> prompt? The ability to run effectively 32-bit .com files is what I
> have in mind.
>
1) write your own startup - 16-bit RM to 32-bit PM as a .com
2) DPMI startup - 16-bit RM to 16-bit PM to 32-bit PM
3) Multiboot header
4) your own bootloader
1) and 2) work for older versions of Windows (95,98,ME). I use both of
these. I just patch them onto the start of the 32-bit code I need to
check.
But I'm unsure if XP etc. have sufficient v86 or DPMI sup****t...
3) You could add a multiboot header. This header allows multiboot
compliant
bootloaders, i.e., Grub, Chris Giese's MBLOAD for DOS, etc. to start
32-bit
image from floppy, hardisk, etc.
MBLOAD http://my.execpc.com/CE/AC/geezer/temp/mbload.zip
4) You could write your own bootloader with 32-bit PM startup.
Rod Pemberton
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