Re: idle state

From: Frank Kotler <fbkotler@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:02:27 -0500

mike7411@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I'm trying to understand what occurs at a processor level when an OS
such as Windows is idle. Is there an assembler statement tells the
processor to take a break until an interrupt occurs or something
similar? I couldn't find it.

The "hlt" instruction does what you describe. I don't know if Windows' idle process uses it - probably. It's a "privileged" instruction, so you wouldn't be able to use it in "userland" code...

Best,
Frank
.

References:
- idle state
  - From: mike7411

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