•
x86-64 processors can be run in one of two states: •
Long mode: provides larger physical address spaces and the ability to run
64-bit applications which can use larger
virtual address spaces and more
registers. •
Legacy mode: allows these processors to act as if they were
16- or
32-bit x86 processors with all of the abilities and limitations of them in order to run legacy 16-bit and 32-bit
operating systems, and to run programs requiring
virtual 8086 mode to run (e.g., in
Windows). • 32-bit
x86 processors have two legacy modes:
real mode and virtual 8086 mode. Real mode causes the processor to mostly act as if it was an original 8086, while virtual 8086 mode allows the creation of a
virtual machine, enabling programs that require real mode to run within a
protected mode environment. Protected mode is the non-legacy mode of 32-bit x86 processors, introduced with the
Intel 80286. • Most
PC graphic cards have a
VGA and a
SVGA mode that allows their use on systems without their dedicated
device drivers, which means they can function in basic mode even when the system hasn't fully recognized the card's advanced capabilities. • Operating systems often have a special mode allowing them to emulate an older release in order to support software applications dependent on the specific interfaces and behavior of that release.
Windows XP can be configured to emulate
Windows 2000 and
Windows 98.
Windows 11 can run programs in "compatibility mode" for
Windows 8,
Windows 7,
Windows Vista (Service Pack 2),
Windows Vista (Service Pack 1),
Windows Vista,
Mac OS X used to support the execution of
Mac OS 9 applications on
PowerPC-based
Macintoshes. •
Computer buses emulated through legacy mode: • Emulated bus (Host bus) •
ISA (
LPC) •
PCI (
PCI Express) •
PS/2 or
RS-232 mouse (
USB mouse) •
PS/2 or
AT keyboard (
USB keyboard) • Many
SATA disk controllers offer a legacy mode of operation for compatibility i.e.
parallel ATA emulation • Some niche markets have enabled
Compact Flash and
SD cards to emulate IDE hard drives for old
DOS and
Windows 95 computers. • The
Wii U can be run in a special "
Wii Mode" that activates an emulated version of the
Wii Menu as a means of playing games made for the latter system (it is not compatible with
GameCube games without system modification, however). ==See also==