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Int 21 - European MS-dos 4.0 - "aexec" - Execute Program In Background [!]
AH = 80h
CX = mode
0000h place child in zombie mode on exit to preserve exit code
0001h discard child process and exit code on termination
DS:DX -> ASCIZ full program name
ES:BX -> parameter block (as for AX=4B00h)
Return: CF clear if successful
AX = Command Subgroup ID (CSID)
CF set on error
AX = error code (see AH=59h)
Program: European MS-DOS 4.0 was written for Siemens in Germany and then used
by several other European OEMs; its release falls between mainstream
versions 3.2 and 3.3
Desc: asynchronously execute a program, creating a new process for it
Notes: this function is called by the DETACH command
there is a system-wide limit of 32 processes
the CSID is used to identify all processes that have been spawned by
a given process, whether directly or indirectly
programs to be run in the background must use the new executable format
(see AH=4Bh)
background processes may only perform asynchronous (background) EXECs,
either this function or AX=4B04h
background processes may execute INT 11, INT 12, INT 21, INT 2A, and
INT 2F at any time; they may execute INT 10 and INT 16 only while
they have opened a popup screen via INT 2F/AX=1401h; no other
interrupts may be executed from the background
background processes may not use drive B: or overlay their code
segments
see AX=8700h for an installation check
the "NE" new executable format made its first appearance in European
MS-DOS 4.0
See Also: AH=4Bh,AH=87h,INT 2F/AX=1400h"POPUP"
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