DOS Protected Mode Interface


DOS Protected Mode Interface

(DPMI) The method which Microsoft prescribes for a DOSprogram to access extended memory under a multitaskingenvironment, e.g. Microsoft Windows. This service isprovided by the HIMEM.SYS driver on IBM PCs.

The DPMI specification was finalized in 1990. Thespecification itself is available from Intel Literature Sales.

VCPI (Virtual Control Program Interface), which was analternative, and incompatible method for doing the same thing.

["Windows 3.1 Secrets", Brian Livingston, 1992, ISBN1-878058-43-6, pages 280-281 and 302].