LMSW loads the machine status word (MSW -- lower 16 bits of CR0) from the source operand. This instruction can be used to switch to protected mode by setting the protection enable bit (PE) to zero; if so, it must be followed by an intrasegment jump to flush the instruction queue. LMSW will not switch back to real-address mode (PE bit cannot be reset to 0 with an LMSW instruction).
Note LMSW should be used only under 286-based systems; programs written for the 80386+ should load CR0 with a MOV instruction.
For compatibility with the 80286, the extension type (ET) bit of MSW is not altered by LMSW when executed by 80386+.
LMSW appears in operating system software; it is not used in application programs.