Obtaining the Real to Protected Mode Switch Entry Point


This function can be called in real mode to detect the
presence of DPMI services and to obtain an address that
can be used to begin execution in protected mode.

To Call

AX = 1687h
Execute an Int 2Fh (not an Int 31h)

Returns

If function was successful:
AX = 0
BX = Flags
Bit 0 = 1 if 32-bit programs are supported
CL = Processor type
02h = 80286
03h = 80386
04h = 80486
DH = DPMI major version number
DL = DPMI minor version number
SI = Number of paragraphs required for DPMI host
private data (may be 0)
ES:DI = Address of procedure to call to enter protected
mode

If function was not successful:
AX != 0

Programmer's Notes

o This function does not perform the actual
transition into protected mode. You need to call
the address returned in ES:DI, after allocating
the private data area for the DPMI host, to
perform the actual real to protected mode switch.