Bootable install program? What modes?
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2002 2:42 pm
"CD Setup programs are cool!" - nondot.org
I am not even close to being finished my O.S., nevermind finding a means to distribute it...
...I have an idea. A bootable set-up program similar to Windows 95's. The problem is I don't know if it should be a Real mode or Protected mode. My OS is protected mode, but that's a b*tch to setup (Setup GDT, enter PMode, setup IDT, install handlers, setup v86 session). I don't really want to use it for my install program. Real mode would be a problem because I will need more than 1MByte of RAM (Bitmaps on screen, loading files into memory then onto HDD(Could do sector by sector, but very slow)). I will want to use interrupts to minimize the code needed for drivers.
I remember reading this document on Real Flat mode... What is that? From what I understood, it's Real mode but with more RAM support. I am pretty sure that you set it by going to PMode, and quiting PMode again.
I am not even close to being finished my O.S., nevermind finding a means to distribute it...
...I have an idea. A bootable set-up program similar to Windows 95's. The problem is I don't know if it should be a Real mode or Protected mode. My OS is protected mode, but that's a b*tch to setup (Setup GDT, enter PMode, setup IDT, install handlers, setup v86 session). I don't really want to use it for my install program. Real mode would be a problem because I will need more than 1MByte of RAM (Bitmaps on screen, loading files into memory then onto HDD(Could do sector by sector, but very slow)). I will want to use interrupts to minimize the code needed for drivers.
I remember reading this document on Real Flat mode... What is that? From what I understood, it's Real mode but with more RAM support. I am pretty sure that you set it by going to PMode, and quiting PMode again.
