Method and apparatus for manipulation of non-general purpose registers for use during computer boot-up procedures
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorEd Heller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for execution of code while booting a computer system uses MMX registers of a processor as a virtual stack. BIOS instructions can cause the processor to execute a virtual stack push instruction to move a first data element from a general purpose register to a first MMX register. BIOS instructions can also execute a virtual stack pop instruction to move the first data element from the first of the MMX register to the general purpose register. The virtual stack push instruction and the virtual stack pop instruction are executable prior to initialization of a main memory.
Claims14
A method of booting a computer system, comprising:
- executing a virtual stack push instruction comprising:
- moving a first data element from a general purpose register to a first non-general purpose register of a plurality of non-general purpose registers;
- and
- executing a virtual stack pop instruction comprising:
- moving the first data element from the first non-general purpose register to the general purpose register.
A system for managing a stack during a power-on self test of a computer, comprising:
- means for executing a virtual stack push instruction;
- and
- means for executing a virtual stack pop instruction,
- wherein a stack comprises a plurality of non-general purpose registers, and
- wherein the virtual stack push instruction and the virtual stack pop instruction are executable prior to initialization of a main memory of the computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.