- cli # Mandatory since we dont set up an IDT
- lgdt gdtdesc # load GDT -- mandatory in protected mode
- movl %cr0, %eax # turn on protected mode
- orl $CR0_PE, %eax #
- movl %eax, %cr0 #
- ### CPU magic: jump to relocation, flush prefetch queue, and
- ### reload %cs Has the effect of just jmp to the next
- ### instruction, but simultaneous loads CS with
- ### $PROT_MODE_CSEG.
- ljmp $SEL_KCSEG, $protcseg
+#### Switch to protected mode.
+
+# First we turn off interrupts because we don't set up an IDT.
+
+ cli
+
+# Then we point the GDTR to our GDT. Protected mode requires a GDT.
+# We need a data32 prefix to ensure that all 32 bits of the GDT
+# descriptor are loaded (default is to load only 24 bits).
+
+ data32 lgdt gdtdesc
+
+# Then we turn on the following bits in CR0:
+# PE (Protect Enable): this turns on protected mode.
+# PG (Paging): turns on paging.
+# WP (Write Protect): if unset, ring 0 code ignores
+# write-protect bits in page tables (!).
+# EM (Emulation): forces floating-point instructions to trap.
+# We don't support floating point.