Method and apparatus for manipulation of MMX registers for use during computer boot-up procedures

摘要

A system for execution of code during power-on-self test (POST), the system including a mass storage device for storing computer programs; a microprocessor connected to the mass storage device, the microprocessor including an execution unit; a general purpose register connected to the execution unit, the general purpose register for storing a first data element; an MMX unit including a plurality of MMX registers, the MMX unit connected to the general purpose register, wherein the plurality of MMX registers are configurable as a virtual stack; a storage device connected to the microprocessor, the storage device for storing BIOS instructions; and a plurality of BIOS instructions stored on the storage device, the plurality of BIOS instructions readable by the microprocessor to thereby cause the microprocessor to execute a virtual stack push instruction wherein the first data element is moved from the general purpose register to a first of the plurality of MMX registers; and execute a virtual stack pop instruction wherein the first data element previously moved from the general purpose register to the first of the plurality of MMX registers is moved from the first of the plurality of MMX registers to the general purpose register; wherein the virtual stack push instruction and the virtual stack pop instruction are executable prior to initialization of a main memory.