Intel 253668-032US User Manual

Page of 806
Vol. 3   6-17
INTERRUPT AND EXCEPTION HANDLING
When the processor performs a call to the exception- or interrupt-handler procedure:
If the handler procedure is going to be executed at a numerically lower privilege 
level, a stack switch occurs. When the stack switch occurs: 
a. The segment selector and stack pointer for the stack to be used by the 
handler are obtained from the TSS for the currently executing task. On this 
new stack, the processor pushes the stack segment selector and stack 
pointer of the interrupted procedure. 
b. The processor then saves the current state of the EFLAGS, CS, and EIP 
registers on the new stack (see Figures 6-4). 
c. If an exception causes an error code to be saved, it is pushed on the new 
stack after the EIP value.
If the handler procedure is going to be executed at the same privilege level as the 
interrupted procedure:
a. The processor saves the current state of the EFLAGS, CS, and EIP registers 
on the current stack (see Figures 6-4). 
b. If an exception causes an error code to be saved, it is pushed on the current 
stack after the EIP value.