Machine-Code Instructions???

[ReneeFox]

This may be a simple question, but with all the technology packaged by name, I don't know what to call it anymore to search for this. How do I find the short (or long) descriptions of the machine instructions used? I need to know for debugging code that has no symbols in it, and available instructions probably change depending on what O.S. is used, etc. Can someone point me to this information, or tell me what it's called in the Microsoft World these days? Thanks so much!

[wildfrog]

Are you looking for the term 'instruction set'? That depends on the platform the compiled code is targeting. For INTEL CPUs you can take a look at the Intel Architecture Software Developer’s Manual Volume 2: Instruction Set Reference (http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium/manuals/24319101.pdf)

- petter

[ReneeFox]

Oh, thank you, thank you, wildfrog. I'll take a peek. My O.S. is Windows XP Professional - SP2. My motherboard, though, has been modified by Gateway, and I can't get updates through Intel. I will see if I can get the instruction set from Intel. If I can't get them that way, do you have any other ideas? Microsoft Windows XP Instruction Set? I already looked on the MSDN site, but like I said, I didn't know the keyword to look for so I got lost over there.

I think that's what I'm looking for; I saw one of the instructions I was wondering about in the debug code. Thanks again, wildfrog!

[TheCPUWizard]

As quickfrog pointed out the instruction set is completely and utterly controlled by the processor (or processor family) being used, and has absolutely no dependancies on any software (operating system included).

[ReneeFox]

Actually, I knew that; temporary brain cramp. Pentium IV by Intel is on my motherboard.