X86-64 - AMD64 - Operating Modes - Legacy Mode

Legacy Mode

The mode used by 16-bit ('protected mode' or 'real mode') and 32-bit operating systems. In this mode, the processor acts like a 32-bit x86 processor, and only 16-bit and 32-bit code can be executed. Legacy mode allows for a maximum of 32 bit virtual addressing which limits the virtual address space to 4 GB. 64-bit programs cannot be run from legacy mode.

Read more about this topic:  X86-64, AMD64, Operating Modes

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